🔥“THEY’RE NOT CALLED A TEAM” – Tadej PogaÄŤar STRONGLY ACCUSES Team Visma: “I Can’t Believe They Sacrificed Jonas Vingegaard by Doing That…”
Tensions in the world of professional cycling reached a boiling point yesterday as Tadej PogaÄŤar delivered one of the most scathing post-race interviews of his career, taking direct aim at Team Visma | Lease a Bike. The Slovenian star, fresh off a grueling mountain stage, didn’t hold back when asked about Jonas Vingegaard’s sudden collapse in the final kilometers. “They’re not called a team,” PogaÄŤar snapped. “I can’t believe they sacrificed Jonas like that… it’s just brutal.”
Fans and analysts alike were left stunned. PogaÄŤar, known for his normally composed demeanor, went off-script and into full attack mode. He accused Team Visma of abandoning their GC leader in a strategic gamble gone wrong, hinting that the team might have favored Wout van Aert or even newcomer Matteo Jorgenson in their internal hierarchy. “This isn’t chess. You don’t throw away your king to save a pawn,” he continued, the frustration dripping from every word.
At the center of the storm is the pivotal Stage 17, a mountainous beast where team strategy often makes or breaks the yellow jersey dreams. With Jumbo-Visma setting a brutal early tempo, Vingegaard was visibly struggling on the penultimate climb. Instead of easing the pace or deploying teammates to help him recover, Visma shockingly doubled down, launching van Aert in a solo move off the front. “It was chaos,” PogaÄŤar said. “And it wasn’t coming from us.”
Eyewitnesses on the radio feed confirmed the absence of coordination between Visma riders, with Sepp Kuss reportedly unsure whether to wait for Vingegaard or attack. The result? Vingegaard cracked spectacularly, losing over two minutes to PogaÄŤar and slipping down the GC ladder. The damage may be irreversible—and according to PogaÄŤar, entirely self-inflicted.
Social media exploded. Hashtags like #SaveJonas and #VismaMeltdown trended within minutes. Fans flooded forums, questioning the team’s motives and whether internal politics or sponsor pressure may have led to a betrayal of their reigning Tour champion. While Team Visma released a muted statement late in the evening citing “unfortunate circumstances” and “difficult decisions,” they notably avoided mentioning Vingegaard by name. That only added fuel to the fire.
Meanwhile, PogaÄŤar is surging. Not just physically—though his dominant performance on Stage 17 certainly sends a message—but mentally. His calculated outburst was more than just post-race adrenaline; it was a statement of psychological warfare. He’s not just racing against the peloton—he’s tearing apart his rivals from the inside out. “If that’s how they treat their best rider,” he quipped as he walked away, “then I guess I don’t have much to worry about.”
In a sport where loyalty and unity often define champions, Visma’s unraveling could mark one of the most shocking implosions in recent memory. Vingegaard, once the golden boy of Grand Tour consistency, now finds himself isolated, sacrificed, and publicly pitied by his fiercest rival. If the team doesn’t right the ship soon, not only could they lose the Tour—they could lose their credibility.
One thing is certain: Tadej PogaÄŤar has drawn a line in the sand. And as the Tour hurtles into its final stages, the real race may not be for the podium—it may be for control of the narrative. Visma, it seems, is no longer in the driver’s seat.
