Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard, two of the biggest names in the world of professional cycling, will reignite their rivalry once more in the mountains of France after Visma – Lease a Bike finally revealed the team’s schedule for the 2026 season last week.
The rivals have dominated the Tour over the last six years, with Pogačar winning four titles and Vingegaard taking the other two.
Their yearly showdowns have produced a brilliant spectacle, as well inspiring a cohort of other rivals seeking to break their one-two dominance.
Vingegaard to return to France
Denmark’s Vingegaard was clear in his ambition to win a third Tour de France title during Visma’s media day on Tuesday.
“Winning it for a third time would be incredible. Of course it will be difficult, though it may be more exciting than the past two editions,” he said, talking about the course, which is set to open from July 4 to 26.
The Dane managed to finish second in 2024 and 2025 behind his rival Pogačar from UAE Team Emirates – XRG.
It was a reverse situation in 2022 and 2023, with him winning both editions and Pogačar coming in second.
Citing this year’s route, he predicted that decisive moments are expected to appear in the final week, saying time gaps could be “smaller as a result”.
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Rivals who motivate each other
Slovenia’s Pogačar already announced his Tour de France bid last month, though admitted he’d rather win Paris-Roubaix when given an either-or choice.
His season will find him racing in the spring Classics before trying to snatch his fifth tour title.
While his rivalry with Vingegaard has seen them crush one another at the gruelling mountain tops of France each year, it’s no secret that Pogačar has a deep respect for the Dane and the role he plays in his life.
“I always say that every cyclist or any other sport: everyone wants to face the best possible opponents. I want to see all the competitors at their best in the Tour de France or any other race,” Pogačar said in an interview with Marca cited by Cycling Up to Date in November.
“If some miss the race or have bad luck, it’s not the same atmosphere and it doesn’t feel the same.
“Also, we motivate each other every year. In the last four years, Jonas has pushed me to another level in the Tour.
“It’s necessary to have him there every year.”
Vingegaard also feels the same way.
“It could be kind of boring if you just won every mountain stage by two minutes. So I actually enjoy having a rival like him”, he said ahead of the 2025 Tour de France in an interview with TNT Sports.
“If I was racing without him, it wouldn’t be the same.”
Mixing it up with Giro debut
But winning a third Tour de France title is not only Vingegaard’s main goal this year.
The Dane will also debut at the Giro d’Italia, happening from May 8 to 31, to attain a rare Grand Tour trilogy.
This comes hot on the heels of his Vuelta a España victory just last season.
“It’s [the Giro] one of the biggest races on the calendar, and it’s also one I have never done before. I really want to experience it, and now feels like the perfect moment”, he said in a press release.
“Winning the Vuelta last fall only gives me more motivation to go all-in for victory in Italy as well. I would love to add the pink jersey to my collection.”
His bid for a Giro title is a departure from his previous approach in the last couple of years, where he had to follow a relatively same schedule.
This 2026 season, Vingegaard is set to compete in four races: the UAE Tour, the Volta a Catalunya, the Giro d’ Italia and then the Tour de France.
“I’m more motivated than ever, like I haven’t been for years,” Vingegaard added.
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