Cycling superstar Jonas Vingegaard experiences a debacle in the street race of the European Championship in France and rises after only 90 kilometers. Ex-Tour-de-France winner Bjarne Riis then made serious accusations against his compatriot. The Danish coach is also disappointed.
For Jonas Vingegaard, the European Championship race was over on Sunday before it really started. After around 90 of the 202 kilometers of 202 kilometers, the Danish superstar rose from the bike. A debacle for him and Denmark’s team.
The two-time tour winner had already stated before the start of the race that he did not know how it was about its shape. The 28-year-old probably didn’t expect such a weak appearance. This also applied to national coach Michael Morkov.
Vingegaard coach had hoped for more
“It is clear that we had hoped that Jonas would be in the same constitution as with his Vuelta victory three weeks ago,” said the coach, who designed his racing plan on this basis.
However, the original tactic, with Vingegaard and the later seventh -placed Mattias Skjelmosis in the final phase, did not work through Vingegaard’s task. The early loss of the superstar was crucial, emphasized Morkov, who took his number one a bit, but also clearly formulated: “I thought he would beat himself better.”
Riis with sharp criticism of Vingegaard
Ex-tour winner Bjarne Riis assessed the matter very similarly. Only the former professional chose significantly more drastic words.
“He didn’t train. He didn’t do what was necessary to be ready for the European Championship. This is my best assessment,” he “fields” over the specialist portal. “When he was left behind, there were still 80 drivers in the peloton – and that was the first real incline. If something like this happens, because he didn’t train,” Riis confirmed his accusations.
If it is after the 1996 tour winner, Vingegaard did not spend enough time on the bike after his Vuelta victory. Maybe he has a different explanation, but that is what I think. He did not take it seriously enough and did not do the special preparation that was necessary to drive a medal, “said Riis.
After the race, Vingegaard himself recorded that he had indeed made a mistake. “I admit it, I would have taken more time than I was hoping.” After the Vuelta, he didn’t sit on the bike for two weeks. Not because he didn’t want to, but because he couldn’t. Ultimately, on Sunday he simply “didn’t have his legs” to end the European Championship race, he said.