Why was Tadej Pogacar 'scared' to attack on Tour de France Stage 2? Can Jonas Vingegaard gain 'significant time' in time trial?

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After a season pockmarked by explosive Tadej Pogacar attacks, the Slovenian has kept his powder dry so far in the early Tour de France skirmishes. Stage 2 had looked set up for a classic Pogacar finish, but instead it was GC rival Jonas Vingegaard who was trying his luck off the front, with Pogacar missing out to Mathieu van der Poel in the sprint. The TNT panel assessed the wider meaning.

Pogacar reflects on ‘good day’ at Tour despite losing Stage 2 sprint to Van der Poel

Video credit: TNT Sports

Why are we seeing a different Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates-XRG) in the 2025 Tour de France so far?

The finale to Stage 2 threw up a role reversal, with the typically conservative Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) the one igniting the latter stages, while UAE's Pogacar - he of 'attack at all costs' fame - seemed content to follow.

Even in the final sprint, the Slovenian never emerged from the giant shadow of Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin–Deceuninck), with the Dutchman taking his first Tour stage win since 2021.

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Afterwards, there was a fascinating confession by Pogacar.

"I think it was a good day. Of course I would have wanted the win, but I got a bit scared in the last 400 metres, I stayed on Mathieu's wheel but of course he's too fast for me.

"I should have anticipated the bit before, but it is what it is, it was a good day anyway."

What was Pogacar "scared" about? When is he ever scared? TNT Sports' Adam Blythe attempted to dissect what he had seen.

"I tell you what is interesting; Tadej didn't attack," he said.

"And that is very interesting because normally there are always attacks. Especially two steep climbs strung out like that, you can almost guarantee him waiting, waiting, waiting...now he's going, now he's gone.

"He's not tried yet, he's not made one single attack."

Pressed by presenter Orla Chennaoui on why this is the case, Blythe said: "Maybe he is just trying to play conservative, maybe just give the others a bit more confidence than what they actually have.

"It's not like Tadej on that terrain not to go, or [not to] try at least."

Van der Poel ‘empties the tank’ to beat Pogacar and claim Stage 2 win

Video credit: TNT Sports

By contrast, Vingegaard - having last year been accused by Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick-Step) of not having the "balls" to race, preferring to ride "smart" - is like a new man.

The great Dane jumped off the front at the pre-Tour Criterium du Dauphine before doing so again on Stage 2, and to observers it seems like he is trying to fight fire with Slovenian fire.

EF Education–EasyPost boss Jonathan Vaughters, also in the TNT studio, predicted that Wednesday's time trial stage will see Vingegaard demonstrate just what shape he is in.

"The style [of racing] is different, but to me that just means he [Vingegaard] feels really strong," Vaughters said.

"What I'm really interested to see with him, when I'm viewing him being that strong in these short, explosive climbs, it makes me think that the time trial that we're going to see [on Wednesday], he is going to take some significant time out of everybody.

"That doesn't mean the race is won or lost or whatever else. At first, I thought [Remco] Evenepoel would be the guy in that time trial, but I don't know. From what I'm seeing I think Vingegaard is going to be very impressive in that time trial."

Vaughters' view was backed up by a voice from the peloton, with Team Jayco–AlUla rider Michael Matthews revelling in this new "gambling" style that fans have not historically associated with Vingegaard.

'Get out the way, man!' - Peloton in close miss with spectators

Video credit: TNT Sports

"I think he's showing that he can also be a versatile rider on stages like this," Matthews said.

"In the past we would've thought maybe this would be a stage where Jonas might lose some time on Tadej, or Tadej makes some time on Jonas. I think he's a more rounded rider at the moment and just enjoying riding his bike, which I think we all love to see.

"We don't like to see calculated racing, we want to see guys gambling and throwing it out there and trying to win bike races.

"There's obviously the GC at the end of this Tour de France which is the main goal, but along the way there's a lot of opportunity to win stages."

Monday's Stage 3 sees the riders embark on a flat 178.3km run from Valenciennes to Dunkerque.

Follow our live text coverage here and watch every stage live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

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