Jonas Vingegaard snatched the yellow jersey from Tadej Pogacar on stage 11 of the Tour de France on Wednesday after the Jumbo-Visma team blew the Tour de France apart.

Last year’s runner-up attacked 4.9 kilometres from the finish to drop the defending champion after Vingegaard, Primoz Roglic and their teammates relentlessly attacked Pogacar in the thin air.

Jumbo-Visma team took full charge of the stage on the Galibier – the highest point of this year’s route at 2642 metres above sea level.

However, every time they tried to isolate Pogacar, the UAE-Emirates leader team responded calmly. Pogacar even smiled at TV cameras at the foot of the final climb, the Col du Granon – a punishing 11.3-kilometre climb at an average gradient of 9.2 per cent.

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Guided by teammate Rafal Majka, Pogacar rode at the front, but the Jumbo-Visma’s work finally paid off when Pogacar cracked on the final ascent.

From there the floodgates opened, with rider after rider distancing the yellow jersey.

Vingegaard reaped the rewards of his earlier attacks – especially those by Roglic, who sacrificed his own chances in a risk-it-all strategy by the Jumbo Visma team.

“The team were fantastic, especially Primoz. He’s one of the leaders and he did everything. He showed how generous he is. He’s such a great rider. Winning a tour stage and wear the yellow jersey is what I’ve always dreamed off,” said Vingegaard afterwards.