For Jonas Vingegaard, another rest day in the yellow jersey and another discreet interaction with the media at the Tour de France: like Clermont-Ferrand a week ago, Jumbo-Visma did not allow Vingegaard to attend the press conference in Saint-Gervais on Monday Instead, he released a short video interview earlier in the evening.

Taddei Pogachar held his usual rest day press conference in the early afternoon, but by now he may have the upper hand in the Prix Oranger (an award given to the most likeable player) competition.

After 2,606 km of racing, the gap between the two favorites is only 10 seconds. Pogachar took a few seconds off on the Grand Colombier, while Vingegaard took a bonus on the Col de Jouhei, and they were evenly matched on the road to St. Gervais-Mont-Blanc on Sunday.

In a video interview recorded by Sporza and TV2 for Jumbo-Visma, Vingegaard reiterated his earlier suggestion that whatever the final standings, the gap between the top two would be more emphatic by the time they reached Paris.

"It would be difficult to say that. But I don't think it will be more than a few seconds, especially considering the time trial and the stage," said Vingegaard. 'Certainly it could be less than a minute. But I don't think it will be a matter of five seconds. I can't even imagine. But I guess we'll find out in Paris."

Of the six days remaining in the Tour, the decisive battle between Vingegaard and Pogachar will be won or lost in three of the Tour's three remaining days: Tuesday's stage 16 time trial to Combreux, the tough alpine leg over the Col de la Rose the following day, and the potentially explosive final day through the Vosges mountains. The three races are the most explosive and exciting of the three.

"This is only my third Tour de France, but it's definitely the hardest one I've ever done. 'I don't know right now who will win. It's a very close race, a really big battle."

The 22.4km time trial from Passy to Combrue may bring an even bigger gap to a race that has been so close so far. The only time trial in the Tour is likely to be significant in the race for the eventual overall victory.

"I think it will be a very important race," said Vingegaard. There are only 10 seconds between us, so it could be a decisive race. Anyway, I will do my best. Of course, there are two other hard stages besides the time trial. But I think tomorrow's time trial will be decisive."

Pogachar's record against Vingegaard in time trials is 6 wins and 3 losses, but Vingegaard's progress in time trials was evident in last year's Tour, and had he not slowed to hand victory to teammate Wout Van Aert, he would have won the final stage at Rocamadour would have won the final stage of the race.

Dane scouted the stage 16 time trial earlier in the season and claimed that it suited his characteristics. He said, "I think it's a good route for me, it's a good route for me, it's a good route for me. I like routes that aren't just flat roads and straight lines for 50 kilometers," Vingegaard said. 'I like the change of pace and I think I will tomorrow.'

The soft-spoken Vingegaard is not much of a braggart, but he has repeatedly pointed to his endurance qualities as a potentially decisive factor in this Tour. He had previously suggested that the positioning of this time trial as a three-week time trial would play to his strengths rather than Pogachar's, but on Monday he took a cautious view.

"It is difficult to say. If you had asked me, I would have said yes. But I think we are so similar that it might be hard to guess. I think we've been evenly matched so far, so I wouldn't be surprised if we're even tomorrow."