In the last two editions of the Tour de France, the Slovenian cycling dominator Tadej Pogacar was unbeatable. His long-term rival Jonas Vingegaard will also not be able to keep the UAE superstar in check at the Tour of France in 2024 and 2025. Nevertheless, the Dane is optimistic that he can change this.
“We had a good duel for a few years and took turns winning,” said Jonas Vingegaard in an interview with “TV2”, looking at the past editions of the Tour de France, which in the last two years went to Tadej Pogacar: “Now he has won the last two years, so it’s my turn this year. I believe that I will win.”
The 29-year-old has “a good feeling” about this year’s Tour of France, which begins on July 4th in Barcelona, Spain: “I’ve trained well and am in better shape than last year. I’m slowly getting closer to the shape I want to be in for the Giro d’Italia.” Vingegaard therefore concludes: “I think this will be our year!”
Cycling: Jonas Vingegaard wants to “win the Giro”
In order to best prepare for the season highlight in France, the Visma-Lease a Bike superstar is competing in the Giro for the first time in his career, whereas he has already taken part in the France loop five times (2 overall wins) and once in the Spanish Vuelta (1 overall win). If he wins the Giro, he would have triumphed in all Grand Tours – a tempting goal.
“I’m starting with the expectation that I can fight for victory and the goal is to win the Giro,” says Vingegaard, setting the direction for the classic, which begins on May 8th in Nessebar, Bulgaria. Former Tour winner Geraint Thomas was quite surprised by the Dane’s decision to ride the Giro in the run-up to the Tour.
That was “courageous,” said the Brit in the podcast “Watts Occurring.” The 39-year-old added: “And that almost never works.” There is therefore a risk of not being at the top level in time for the tour after the Giro’s exertions.