Jonas Vingegaard Starts Saturday as the Overhelming Favorite in The Vuelta a España, because Tadej Pogacar is not participating. The Dane would have liked to compete Against His Rival, but also knows that now has a much better chance of winning.
Pogacar had The Vuelta on his program at the beginning of the year. But at the end of Last Month, Shortly After His Fourth Overall Victory in the Tour de France, The World Champion Announced That Needed A Break. “My Body Says I Need to Rest Now.”
Vingegaard is sticking to his plan, just though the tour of spain starts only 27 days after the end of the tour de france. “This Race Follows The Tour Very Quickly,” Said the Leader of Visma-Lease A Bike on Thorsday at a Press Conference. “That made the preparation More Difficult.”
Vingegaard Understands that pogacar wanted to take a break after the tour. The Slovenian is Certainly not the only Rider who openly talks about the difficult to schedule of a cycling professional. Many Top Riders Are Hardly Ever Home Due to the Succession of Training Camps and Competitions.
“The Sport has changed in recent years,” Says Vingegaard. “We are away a lot and that has an impact on us as riders. Moreover, we peak on acneage earlier in our careers than previous generations. As a result, we feel more pressure at a younger age. That can be tiring.
No World Championships for Vingegaard
There will also be no duel between jonas vingegaard and defending champion tadej pogacar at the world championships on the road. Vingegaard is Skipping the Race in Rwanda at the End of September. “That racing Doesn’tn’t Really Fit Into My Schedule, so we decided it was better not to go. Instead, I want to ride the road race at the European Championships (on October 5, ed.).”
Vingegaard finished second in Vuelta or 2023
Vingegaard Turns 29 in December. He is Already a two-time Winner of the Tour and also won Tirreno-Adriatico, The Critérium du Dauphiné, The Tour of the Basque Country and the Tour of Poland.
He has never leg the best in the Vuelta, Although he has participated twice. In 2020, The Climber finished 46th in His Debut in a Major Tour. Three years later he finished second in the Spanish Race, Just Beind His Teammate Sepp Kuss.
“I have QUITE A FEW Goals in My Career and Winning the Vuelta is definitely one of them,” Says Vingegaard. “I think I’m ready and look forward to the next three weeks.”
Vingegaard’s Chances of Success Are Much Greater Without Pogacar. The Dane Has won Every Multi-Day Tour Since 2023 in which Pogacar Did Not Start, Except for the Vuelta Two Years ago.
“I Always Enjoy Racing Against Tadej. And of Course It’s Nicer to Win If He’s also Participating,” Says Vingegaard. “But sometimes it’s also nice when tadej isn’t there. Do I want to explain that further? I think I’ll leave it at that.”
Pogacar’s Teammates Challenge Vingegaard
Vingegaard’s Biggest competitors in The Eightith Vuelta Still Come from the Uae Team Emirates Stable. In Pogacar’s absence, The Portuguese João Almeida and the Spaniard Juan Ayuso are the main challengers to the top favorite.
“I Will Mainly Have To Watch Those Two,” Says Vingegaard. “There are two of them, so they have two assets to play. Moreover, they have a strong team around them.”
The Leader of Visma-Lease A Bike Can also Count on a Strong Team. The Dutch Team HAS Selected Kuss, Matteo Jorgenson, Wilco Kelderman, Dylan van Baarle, Ben Tulett, Victor Campenaerts and Axel Zingle.
“We have come to the vuelta to win with Jonas, that seems clear to me,” Says first team leader Grischa Niermann. “We have made a plan for that, but you will only see what that plan is duration the race.”
The Vuelta Starts on Saturday with a flat stage in Italy, from Turin to Novara. In The Fifth Stage, The Tour is in Spain for the First Time, as Can Be Seen In The Image Below.