Jonas Vingegaard Finally Breaks the Silence: “YOU’RE CRAZY” – Pogačar’s Pre-Stage Ritual Pushes the Human Body Beyond Limits
Tour de France drama has reached a fever pitch after reigning champion Jonas Vingegaard finally addressed the controversial pre-stage ritual of his rival, Tadej Pogačar. In an unexpected outburst during a rest day media session, Vingegaard snapped, “You’re crazy,” when asked about Pogačar’s now-viral warm-up routines that have shocked even seasoned physiologists.
For weeks, fans and analysts have speculated on how Pogačar maintains his aggressive tempo, day in and day out. Now, the secret is no longer a mystery—Pogačar engages in a pre-stage warm-up so intense, so punishing, that it borders on self-destruction. Footage has emerged of him pedaling at nearly full sprint on a stationary bike for up to 20 minutes, under a cooling fan, barely flinching, his eyes locked in a trance-like focus. No banter. No distractions. Just total mental immersion in what appears to be his own battlefield.
What makes this more disturbing—and fascinating—is that this is done before each stage, not after. The body, already worn from previous rides, is being pushed again at max capacity before the real work even begins. According to insiders, Pogačar believes this helps him “feel pain early, so it doesn’t surprise me later.” It’s not just a warm-up. It’s a mind game. And it’s working.
Sources within Jumbo-Visma revealed that one of Vingegaard’s teammates attempted to replicate the session, perhaps as a show of strength or curiosity. The result? He had to stop halfway through, reportedly suffering from dizziness and muscle fatigue. “It’s not something humans are built to do,” a team staff member said. “There’s warm-up, and then there’s Pogačar. He’s redefining what we thought possible.”
The cycling community is split. Some hail Pogačar’s intensity as revolutionary, while others say it’s dangerous, even reckless. “This isn’t just about performance,” one former pro commented. “It’s about identity. He’s trying to intimidate everyone around him—before the race even starts.”
Jonas Vingegaard, known for his calm and calculated demeanor, rarely makes emotional statements. But the pressure cooker environment of this year’s Tour, combined with the shadow of Pogačar’s increasingly unorthodox methods, seems to have cracked the surface. “You’re crazy,” he muttered, almost in disbelief, when shown a clip of Pogačar’s warm-up on a reporter’s phone. He quickly pivoted the conversation to strategy, but the tension was already in the air.
Pogačar has yet to respond directly to Vingegaard’s remarks, but earlier in the week, he hinted at the psychological aspect of his preparation. “If they’re watching, that’s good,” he said. “Then they’re not thinking about what really matters.”
As the Tour enters its final and most punishing mountain stages, all eyes are now on the two giants: Vingegaard, the methodical Dane clinging to tradition and structured pacing, versus Pogačar, the Slovenian disruptor who’s rewriting the script with every pedal stroke.
Whether it’s brilliance or madness, one thing is clear: Tadej Pogačar has gotten under Vingegaard’s skin—and that, in itself, may be his greatest victory yet.
