Press Conference – Jonas Vingegaard before the 2025 Vuelta a España
Jonas Vingegaard:
Yeah, first of all, I had a good time between the Tour and the Vuelta. I enjoyed being together with my family and, yeah, enjoyed some time with them. But of course, you also need to train and, to be honest, I had a good training period. I did almost everything I wanted. I just had a small setback, but that was really minor. I feel like the shape is good and I’m ready for the next three weeks of racing.
Q: What kind of setback, if you want to share?
JV: Yeah, sure. I had a small sickness. But as I said, it was very minor and I don’t feel like it affected me.
Q: You mentioned your family. You could spend time with them. Are they here at the Vuelta? Your daughter has a birthday during the race. Maybe that’s an occasion?
JV: No, they will stay in Denmark. They’ll stay at home, get a bit of rest, and just stay there. Don’t do anything, yeah.
Q: Back home in Denmark there’s a lot of talk about the World Championships and you not going. You said you would like to go— is that still in your plans? Do you have the vaccinations to go to Rwanda?
JV: No, actually we decided not to go to the Worlds. It doesn’t really fit into the plans. We’ve decided we want to go for the Europeans instead. Of course you need to be really fresh to go to the Worlds this year—it really requires a lot from the rider. And with not knowing how I’ll come out of this Vuelta, we decided it was better not to do it. I still want to do the European Championships instead, and then have some time after the Vuelta to focus on that.
Q (Jonas, Danish media): How do you reflect on the last Vuelta back in 2023, with you and Primož and Sepp Kuss ending up 1-2-3?
JV: I think we all in the team can be pretty happy with how it ended—one, two, three in the general classification. That hasn’t ever happened before. And it’s going to be a lot of years before it happens again. So we can be very proud. For me personally, I came into the Vuelta getting sick at the start and not feeling well, but later on I got better and back to my normal level. So hopefully this year I won’t get sick at the start and I can be there from the beginning.
Q (Maxim Jacques): Without Remco, without Tadej, is it easier for you, or more pressure?
JV: No, I don’t feel like there’s more pressure. The Tour de France is the race with the most media, the most everything. That’s where the real pressure is. Compared to that, I don’t feel like this is more. Of course, I’m one of the big favourites here, so there is some pressure, but I’m just happy to be here and go for the win.
Q (Mark Mízer): Many people say you’re the top favourite. Could being the top favourite be an advantage?
JV: If you’re the top favourite it means you’re a good rider. Hopefully I can also show that here and turn it into my advantage.
Q: In your opinion, who are the main opponents for GC? And after the Europeans, is there still space for Il Lombardia in your schedule?
JV: I think the main GC contenders will be Ayuso and Almeida. Those are the guys to really think about. Carapaz was a contender but he pulled out of the Vuelta already. And UAE has two leaders to play in GC, so they’re strong. For now, no Lombardia.
Q (M. Høgard): You had some off days in the Tour. Have you found an explanation, and are you afraid of it happening again here?
JV: You can always have off days. I just hope it doesn’t happen. We think we figured out at least part of it, but that’s something we’ll keep as our secret.
Q (Dan): You had months to prepare for the Tour. Here only three weeks. How difficult is that? And how much of an advantage can it be for someone like Ayuso, who didn’t race the Tour?
JV: Physically, it would be better to go to altitude. But you also have to look at the mental side. So yes, it can be an advantage not to do the Tour.
Q (Jan Peter, Nieuwsblad): You prepared in Annecy. Was there a reason to go there, and despite illness did you complete your training load?
JV: Yeah, it’s a nice area, good climbs, good weather. I like it there. To be honest, I did pretty much everything I wanted training-wise. So I had the best possible preparation.
Q (Christian BT): Last Vuelta ended with a lot of drama, weather, safety. With your crash last year in mind, how do you look at racing in Spain again?
JV: I don’t think there was a lot of drama with the weather last time.
Moderator: It was a bit dark in the TTT.
JV: Oh yeah, exactly. If they don’t do stupid things like that again, I don’t see any reason not to be happy racing in Spain. I’ve always enjoyed it. And I’d add—the organisers actually do a really good job overall in securing the routes, almost the best. It’s not fair to blame them for those two stages in 2023. In general, they care about rider safety.
Q (Rasmus): Originally it was on the table that Tadej would ride. Are you happy or sad he isn’t here?
JV: Of course it’s nice to race against Tadej. But also sometimes it’s nice when he’s not there. You want to win no matter what. Of course it’s nicer when he’s in the race too.
Q: Why did you say it can also be nice when he’s not there?
JV: I think I said enough about that.
Q: Do you have a plan to conquer this Vuelta? Any stages picked out?
JV: Yes and yes. But of course we won’t tell you the plan. That would be stupid.
Q: What would winning this Vuelta mean for you personally and professionally?
JV: It’s always been one of my goals to win this race. So of course it would mean a lot.
Q: Last time you were here you said you were at 90–95% form. What about this year?
JV: Hard to say. We’ll have to see in the first stages if I’m at 90, 95, or 100%. It’s not the best possible preparation—Tour de France and then the Vuelta comes very soon after. So we’ll see.
Q (Julian, Wielerflits): Are you doing the time trial at Europeans? And many Vuelta stages are flat into an uphill finish—does that change preparation?
JV: No, I don’t plan to do the time trial, just the road race. And yes, when it’s only one climb at the end, you need to be a bit more explosive. I didn’t feel like my training was very different though—you’d have to ask my trainer.
Q: After the Tour there was debate about burnout in cycling. Do you feel the same as Pogacar?
JV: Cycling has changed. We perform earlier in our careers. I’ll turn 29 this year; ten years ago it was only around then riders started to really make results. Now there’s more pressure earlier, and in some way it’s more tiring. I don’t think we’ll see riders continue until 40 anymore. And yes, with many altitude camps, a lot of racing, a lot of time away from home—it takes a toll.
Q: Can you imagine a scenario where the Vuelta is a success without you winning in Madrid?
JV: No. I come here to win the Vuelta, that’s clear. That’s my goal and the team’s goal. That’s success.
Moderator: Thank you. This is the end of the press conference. See you in the mixed zone later today. Thanks for coming.
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