Tadej Pogachar (UAE Team Emirates) and Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma), the leading contenders for the 2023 Tour de France, are sworn enemies but agree that Sunday's Puy de Dome climb could mark a new chapter in the race.

After eight stages, the difference between the Slovenians and Danes is only 25 seconds. Vingegaard had reduced his time on the first day in the Pyrenees, but Pogachar struck back on the second day.

But the time difference could change on the final climb of stage 9 of the Puy de Dome, last attacked in the 1988 Tour de France.

"For everyone tomorrow will be something new and a special stage. The race will be blown to smithereens once again."

On Saturday's very fast stage, Pogachar was very active and close to the front on the twisting and turning final part to the city of Limoges. Pogachar came through unscathed, but another strong contender, Simon Yates (Jayco Iaia), crashed hard and lost time, retiring Steph Klass in 13th place on GC. Pogachar eventually finished 10th.

"It wasn't easy to finish," Pogachar said. I think I could have been further ahead in the final because my legs were tired."

"I tried to sprint, but now I don't have the legs to sprint.

Stage 9 will start in Saint-Leonard de Nobla, the home town of the late great French cyclist Raymond Pridor. While the 3,441-meter vertical climb of this stage is not the most difficult of the 2023 Tour, the 12.6-km climb of the Puy de Dome never drops below 11% in the last 4 km and is sure to wreak havoc, as Pogachar predicted.

Jonas Vingegaard and Jumbo Wisma's camp were also convinced that the Puy de Dome would be the big battle ahead; Johnny Wertz, who won the Puy de Dome in 1988, is also Danish and was asked if he wanted to bring another victory to his country The defending champion, now in the yellow jersey, smiled a little.

"I knew he won. Of course I don't remember the year, but I hope to feel good tomorrow. We have to plan what we're going to do, but it's not just about us," Wingegaard told reporters.

Jumbo Visma "depends on how strong Jonas feels in the legs compared to the other leading riders and especially Pogachar," team coach Arthur van Dongen told Cycling News.

Team coach Arthur van Dongen told Cyclingnews, "I'm not sure how strong Jonas will feel compared to the other favorites and especially to Pogachar.

Van Dongen said he was "not surprised" by Pogachar's "comeback" on stage 6.

Van Dongen cited historical examples of comebacks in Grand Tours, emphasizing his point that "I was there with Tom Dumoulin at the 2018 Giro d'Italia when many people said Chris Froome was done," but in fact . and Froome, against almost all odds, eventually grabbed the win.

"But a really great rider like Pogachar will bounce back. Really, it's just the beginning."