Teams & Riders Jonas Vingegaard thread: Love in Iberia

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Pantani also rode MSR.

Even Froome and Contador who have almost non existent one day race palmares rode the worlds at times.
True, but he wasn't a rider who competed in so many classics and all the world championships. But he went to Colombia because, according to him, it was an opportunity and he had to try it.

Froome was a disaster in one-day races, but he went to the world championships.

I find it very disappointing on Vingegaard's part, especially since he himself said at the beginning of the year that it was a major goal, along with the Tour.
 
The Danish national team seems to have prioritised it over the WC in general to be honest.
Morkov had been insisting for months that Vingegaard should go to the World Cup.
Pedersen even publicly urged Vingegaard to go.

Based on public statements made over the months, it was very important to the Danish federation that Vingegaard go to the World Cup this year.

It was Vingegaard's decision. You only have to read Morkov during these months, they prioritized the World Cup.
The European Championship is to make up for another absence, but it's clear they wanted him at the World Cup. I'm not sure if he'll finally go to european championship.

No federation prefers European Championship over World Cup.

View: https://x.com/CyclingUpToDat3/status/1955986045658431618
 
Ultimately, as a PRO; you race for what's best for you and your team and the MONEY. Jonas may not want the travel and serious challenge of World's, particularly after the Tour. Some here suggest he's dodging another showdown with Tadej on a hilly course. It actually might be the ghosts of Visma-past that would be the scariest outcomes. Primoz is going for a reason.

Ultimately you do that if you are selfish, and only care about yourself.

Any Danish other rider wears the national jersey with great pride - just not him.

Imagine someone opting out of the national football team because of "money" :rolleyes:
 
True, but he wasn't a rider who competed in so many classics and all the world championships. But he went to Colombia because, according to him, it was an opportunity and he had to try it.

Froome was a disaster in one-day races, but he went to the world championships.

I find it very disappointing on Vingegaard's part, especially since he himself said at the beginning of the year that it was a major goal, along with the Tour.
But Froome raced WCITT
 
I understand why people are disappointed, but I also think that the biggest issue here is the fact that the world championships are so close to the end of the Vuelta. Firstly we've seen Pogacar drop out of the Vuelta citing fatigue and wanting to prioritise the world championships, and now we have Vingegaard doing the reverse. It's a shame that the world championships don't take place after the Italian classics. Would mid-October really be too late? Surely you could shift the start of the Italian classics forward slightly too.
 
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I understand why people are disappointed, but I also think that the biggest issue here is the fact that the world championships are so close to the end of the Vuelta. Firstly we've seen Pogacar drop out of the Vuelta citing fatigue and wanting to prioritise the world championships, and now we have Vingegaard doing the reverse. It's a shame that the world championships don't take place after the Italian classics. Would mid-October really be too late? Surely you could shift the start of the Italian classics forward slightly too.
As critics have pointed out, the schedule was ready long ago, so Vingegaard has known the dates, and yet he made everyone believe that he was motivated for going to Rwanda. Now suddenly things have changed.

It's okay to say no to a race for whatever reasons. But if you say no to the same event time and time again, then it can't be all about specific issues. In Vingegaard's case, it's a very clear tendency. Just like if you say no to joining somebody at a Christmas party ten years in a row - it may be due to illness once or even twice, but not ten times.
 
Times are changing, indeed.

I will probably be accused of being old-fashioned, but I miss the days when all the best were queuing up to be on the national team for a WC. Besides, can't hide myself - the men's WC RR is still my main menu of the year.

Although I have frowned a little at keeping Rwanda and UCI completely ignoring the recent political unrest, dunno whether that's part of the total ingredients keeping Vingegaard away.

However, I have previously noted that when the final route became official, it was not at all as intense as announced prior. Especially not when you collect gps data, convert and analyze it in 3D on Google Earth as the very first thing, closely study Street View for technical passages, uphills, downhills, etc.

Not that the Men's RR route is a nothingburger by any means - but since the route went official, I haven't considered Vingegaard to be a crystal clear medal contender. In fact, I think the route leans more towards some of the World Championship route designs I like; where a little more rider types have the chance. OK, we're not quite there where a puncheur, a roulleur, a sprinter and a mountain goat all come together to the finish line, but - when you ignore Pogi and what excursions he can come up with - I actually think the route is geared towards a slightly more open championship than anyone was presuming before the official route announcement.

Of course, it speaks in Vingegaard's favor that the route is in the heights.
On the contrary, as noted by others here, I agree on that Vingegaard, especially after his Itzulia crash last year, has not shown that he makes a decisive difference at such race distances.

However, I must frankly admit that I cannot completely shake off the disappointment. Vingegaard will always be a good tactical card to play if he does not have the day at 100% level, and if everything goes well he would definitely have had the opportunity for a medal. Although Anders Lund was criticized a lot at the last few championships, he knew how to get a team of individualists and big names to race for each other.

However, I do not doubt in Michael Mørkøv's abilities here, and besides, with the current suitors, it's not like any of them are acting like princes with ego. And this is where I believe that Vingegaard would have fit very well into the picture "as just one in the team".

But the situation in Rwanda, and that it is obviously a big expense for the cycling federations, so e.g. dropping the entire youth teams, it is also a big loss of prestige for the organizers on other levels.

A pity that this year's edition in general seems to be watered down in this way, not only thinking of Vingegaard.
 
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Full pre-race interview:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBBwGk8IOvM

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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It's not what the fans want. This year, it was Vingegaard who was saying he'd go to the World Championships.
In fact, during preseason, he said his goals were Tour and WC. That's why the disappointment is even biggest.

The European Championship has 205 km. The World Championship and Lombardy over 250 km.

Vingegaard has no podium finishes in a race over 250 km.

It's strange not to be competing in any World Championship and go to the European Championship, which is a minor race.
Until he proves otherwise, there's reasonable doubt that he has problems with long-distance races.
 
It's not what the fans want. This year, it was Vingegaard who was saying he'd go to the World Championships.
In fact, during preseason, he said his goals were Tour and WC. That's why the disappointment is even biggest.

The European Championship has 205 km. The World Championship and Lombardy over 250 km.

Vingegaard has no podium finishes in a race over 250 km.

It's strange not to be competing in any World Championship and go to the European Championship, which is a minor race.
Until he proves otherwise, there's reasonable doubt that he has problems with long-distance races.
His biggest problem is not having wins in premier events. This Vuelta, while seemingly easier with the absence of Tadej, Primoz and Carapaz may actually be worse. JV's Tour strategy had them trying to constantly break the competition; specifically Pogacar, of course. Absent of those other riders it places the focus entirely on Jonas with UAE suddenly appearing as only opportunists. If JV messes this up it'll be clearly a reset for their team hierarchy and will define the entire season. That pressure didn't work in the Tour and IMO it may be a problem for this Vuelta. Jonas will need to channel his inner tranquillo to get through.
 
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It's not what the fans want. This year, it was Vingegaard who was saying he'd go to the World Championships.
In fact, during preseason, he said his goals were Tour and WC. That's why the disappointment is even biggest.

The European Championship has 205 km. The World Championship and Lombardy over 250 km.

Vingegaard has no podium finishes in a race over 250 km.

It's strange not to be competing in any World Championship and go to the European Championship, which is a minor race.
Until he proves otherwise, there's reasonable doubt that he has problems with long-distance races.
Please provide a source.
 
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Please provide a source.
From what I can gather it only seems to be the case that Vingegaard has said so in conversations with the Danish national coach.

(https://www.feltet.dk/nyheder/vingegaard_skal_koere_vm/10831147 google translate:
The reports from both the Danish Tour de France winner and his Visma | Lease A Bike team have long pointed to it, and now it is clear: Jonas Vingegaard will race the World Championships in Rwanda at the end of September.

This is what national coach Michael Mørkøv said in an interview with 'Mandsholdet' .

The Field has also been in contact with Mørkøv, who confirms that Vingegaard has signed up for the World Championships in September.

- That's been the plan all along (ed). When I spoke to Jonas last winter, he expressed that he was motivated for the World Cup. It's clear that there are many tasks ahead, and it's not like you pick the team at the start of the season.

- But Jonas is at a point in his career where he has his eyes set on the championships. It's a World Championship that's right up his alley, so it's clear that he's interested in racing it if it fits.

And Vingegaard can rightly have rainbow-striped dreams, the national coach believes.

- It suits him really well. One of the key points is of course that it is at altitude. It is something he has shown in the past that he is really good at with his body composition. Then there are a lot of altitude meters, which makes it a tough race. So I think it is a good route for Jonas.

Announcement:

- Although where he has performed best in the past is on the longer, steeper climbs. But you can sum it up that Jonas is one of the world's best cyclists, and he will be on that route too.

The World Championships are taking place on the African continent for the first time, with the Rwandan capital, Kigali, providing the backdrop for the race.

A city located at an altitude of 1,500 meters.

One could imagine that training in the thin air would be an advantage. But Vingegaard does not have that opportunity, as he is racing the Tour of Spain shortly before the World Championships.

- Those are the conditions. If you're riding in the Vuelta, there's not really an opportunity to train at altitude before that. But I also believe that the Vuelta will be good preparation for the World Championships, and I think that riders like Jonas are well exposed to performing at altitude. That must be good for him.

- With Jonas - and the high level he has - I think he will be razor sharp after three weeks in the Vuelta.



Also,
"I absolutely think he does (ride in Rwanda ed.). He has expressed that he has it as one of his season goals. It is a route that suits him. It is a rider in his prime. He is perhaps the only one in the world who can beat the defending world champion Tadej Pogacar," explains Danish national coach Morkov, in comments to Feltet.dk. "So all the arrows point in the direction that Jonas wants to ride the World Championships."

 
Hadn't several guys on JV drop from the roster due to injuries and illness?
I mean; they had Matteo and others at camp for weeks before the Tour. Management definitely should take the responsibility for providing healthy support. Jorgenson was, as I've repeatedly posted, completely overused for the first stages pursuing a fairly supportive strategy for Tadej. That came at the expense of Jonas later in the Tour but even he would have to admit he wasn't going to beat him.
Saying the "riders didn't deliver" is assuming there was substance to the delivery. IMO it's difficult to fault them and totally appropriate to question how they were used.
More than half his domestiques raced the Giro and one did a heavy spring campaign. Who are the ''several'' domestiques that got injured? :tearsofjoy: Niermann is this you?
 

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