With his graceful pedaling and relaxed demeanor, Jonas Vingegaard gives no indication that he is feeling the strain of this Tour de France. On stage 17, the Col du Val-Roulon-Azé, he faced his toughest test of the race so far without a hint of anxiety or even a slump in his shoulders.

Although the UAE Team Emirates was reduced to four riders after losing Marc Soler to illness and Rafal Mayka to injury, the team led by Tadej Pogachar put in its best performance of the race on Wednesday, squeezing the yellow jersey group to a minimum on the day's final climb

This stage was the first time the team had been in the race since the start.

Pogachar and his Slovenian teammate Brandon McNulty were the only companions on the Vingegaard in the final hour of this stage. Vingegaard's support group, which included the reliable Sepp Kuss, was separated 4km from the top of the Col du Val Lelong Azé. The yellow jersey was isolated but seemingly unperturbed.

Then again, ever since taking the yellow from Pogachar on the Col du Granon, Vingegaard's strategy had been consistent, and it was no different here, even when outnumbered two to one. Attracting all of Pogachar's attacks, whether early or late, is central to his approach. It is as if he heeds Claudius' warning about Hamlet: "The madness of the great must not go unnoticed."

"It was clear that I had no teammates in the finale, which was not ideal. At no point was I worried," Vingegaard said. [Of course, you need energy, but you never know when Taddeji is going to attack, so you have to be ready. Taddeji often attacks when you least expect it. It did so today and will do so tomorrow."

Vingegaard responded immediately to Pogachar's short volley at the top of the Col du Val Lelong Azé, and McNulty took the reins again on the descent. Pogachar won the sprint battle and reduced Vingergaard's overall lead by four seconds, but Vingergaard was confident of winning the day. With only the mountain stage to Hautacam left to go, the gap to Pogachar was 2:18.

"I would have hated to have had any trouble, but otherwise I just followed Taddei," Vingegaard said of the afternoon he spent behind the McNulty-Pogachar tandem. If Brandon McNulty had attacked, I wouldn't have had to follow him. If Brandon McNulty attacked, I didn't have to follow him. But Brandon McNulty was one of the three strongest today. But I have confidence in the team. Sepp was there even when there were only five men in front of him."

McNulty's run to pull away from Geraint Thomas, David Gaudoux, and Nairo Quintana was perhaps the most impressive of his career. A surprise cameo by Vingegaard's fellow Dane Mikkel Bjerg at the foot of the Col du Vallon Azé was even more surprising, given his ruler characteristics.

"I must say I was surprised when he started running," Vingegaard said. 'He was running at a good pace and what can I say ....... He was really impressive today. He did a great job; when there were only 20 people left, he was there."

Vingegaard kicked in just after McNulty swept down a steep slope in the last 500 meters. The acceleration was enough to clinch the stage win, but it was not enough to cut Vingegaard's lead in any significant way.

"I picked up the pace, but I don't think I'm more explosive than Taddej. After being passed by a rival at the top of La Planche des Belle Filles on stage 7, Vingegaard said, "So I tried a long sprint.

"In the end, it was a hard day. I think Taddei made a good attack, but I was able to stay with him. He won the stage, but this kind of finish doesn't really suit me. It was like La Planche des Belles Fils.

As Vingegaard well knows, Åtakam is reminiscent of the Danish cycling world. Indeed, the route of stage 18 brings to the Tour a road reminiscent of the ghosts of Danish cycling's past.

In 2007, Michael Rasmussen won the yellow atop Col d'Aubisque, but was removed from the race that night by his company, Rabobank (the predecessor of Jumbo-Visma), after it was discovered early in the season that he had lied about his whereabouts to avoid doping tests. In 1996, Bjarne Reiss gave up his rivals to end Miguel Indurain's hopes of a sixth consecutive Tour victory, and took the stage win.

Eleven years later, Reiss confessed to doping to win the race. If Vingegaard can withstand Pogachar's offensive in Aubisque and Hautacam, he is almost certain to win the honor alongside Riis.

"Asked about his experience in Rasmussen in 2007, Vingegaard said, "I remember watching this stage when I was younger. 'But tomorrow we have not only Aubisque, but also Hautacam, which, I believe, Bjarne Riis won. So I think it's a pretty important climb for Danish cycling."

Four days after Paris, Vingegaard remains the leader of the Tour and a master of understatement.