Visma-Lease a Bike and Jonas Vingegaard have insisted that they will go out in the Alps, and risk losing second place overall, to overhaul Tadej Pogačar and win the Tour de France.

However, a series of concerted attacks on Mont Ventoux, and a well-planned team tactic, failed to put as much of a dent in the world champion’s seemingly impenetrable armour.

But judging by a bizarre incident that took place at the start of Thursday’s queen stage in Vif, Visma’s aggressive yellow jersey plan also appears to include literally denting Pogačar’s hopes by testing out his brakes – before the racing has even begun.

As the Tour leader was riding to the start line in Vif, ahead of today’s queen stage in the Alps, he crashed into the back of the Visma-Lease a Bike team car, after its driver braked sharply right in front of him.

The UAE Team Emirates star confirmed the incident in an interview with ITV’s Daniel Friebe before the start of the stage, saying he was “good” despite hitting his chin in the crash.

“News spreads fast!” Pogačar laughed when asked about the pre-stage crash.

“Yeah, we were going to the start line and of course the cars are also going. It was clear in the front, we were cruising behind the car, maybe a bit too close and then he suddenly… I don’t know, maybe he wanted to brake check my brakes!

“I wasn’t ready because I didn’t see anyone in the front, I didn’t see the reason why he needed to stop urgently.

“So I crashed into the car. I hit my…” the 26-year-old continued, pointing to his chin. “But it’s okay. We’re good.”

On Thursday evening, footage emerged on social media featuring the so-called “brake check” and Pogačar’s encounter with the back of the Visma car:

> “This will sound super arrogant, but some guys can stay quiet”: Tour de France leader Tadej Pogačar hits back at “arrogance” and “bullying” claims after rival team boss says “the big boys want to crush the little boys”

Unsurprisingly, with the crash resulting in but a scratch for Pogačar, cycling fans were quick to chip in with a few quips at Visma’s expense on social media.

“Sounds like Visma are getting a bit desperate. They are trying everything,” one fan wrote, while another said: “That’s certainly one way to try and beat Pogi.”

And while their pre-stage brake check failed to work, Pogačar is well aware that Visma will try to put him under some more pressure on the road to the mammoth Col de la Loze today, the scene of the Slovenian’s dramatic collapse at the hands of Vingegaard and Visma at the 2023 Tour.

“I’m ready for Jonas to go full,” Pogačar said. “But ‘risk everything’? That’s a little bit exaggerating. Risking second place, okay, I understand.

“But I know they’ll try today. It’s the D-day, it’s the queen stage. It’s full-on from start to finish.”

And even before the start, by the sounds of things…