Best of the rest: Vingegaard and team get a taste of their own medicine on the Tour

HAUTACAM, France :While Tadej Pogacar has been enjoying a dream Tour de France run this year, his main rival Jonas Vingegaard and his once almighty team are now closer to third than first place after just one high mountain stage on Thursday.

Vingegaard was left shattered by Pogacar's brutal attack in the climb up to Hautacam in the 12th stage, leaving the two-time champion 3:31 behind his rival in the overall standings.

"On the last climb Tadej was clearly the best and in the end Jonas also suffered a lot. Tomorrow is a new day, we will keep fighting," Vingegaard's Visma–Lease a Bike sports director Grischa Niermann told reporters.

"He is the best of the rest."

In 2022, Visma-Lease a Bike riders pulled off a tactical coup in the Alps by trapping Pogacar, before Vingegaard effectively sealed his maiden Tour title in Hautacam by humiliating the Slovenian.

He added another title in 2023 by beating Pogacar by more than seven minutes, with the Slovenian having broken his wrist 2-1/2 months before the Tour.

Pogacar emerged triumphant at last year's edition, when Vingegaard's preparation was hampered by a freak crash a few months before the Tour.

This year, however, the rivalry could reach new heights as both riders announced they were at their peak.

SUFFER FEST

Pogacar hammered Vingegaard in the first individual time trial and was merciless on Thursday as the Dane's teammates were a shadow of their dominant selves.

Key mountain lieutenants Matteo Jorgenson and Simon Yates were of no help as they struggled as early as the Col du Soulor and left Vingegaard fighting on his own at the bottom of Hautacam.

Memories of the humiliation three years ago must have been at the forefront of Pogacar's mind and everything clicked when he realised