Geraint Thomas: “Part of me thinks Jonas Vingegaard isn’t at 100%”

Jonas Vingegaard is in a strong position after ten days of the Giro d’Italia, but some analysts and former riders feel the Danish rider hasn’t yet shown his full spark. Both Geraint Thomas – on his podcast Watts Occuring - and Alberto Contador – as an analyst for Eurosport – have weighed in on the topic.

Thomas, present at the Giro, enjoyed a high point with his Netcompany INEOS team on Tuesday, witnessing Filippo Ganna’s stage win and Thymen Arensman’s second place. “What Thymen did was very good. He gained time on all the GC riders. Derek Gee-West wasn’t far off, and Ben O’Connor performed well too, but I expected a bit more from Jonas,” Thomas said.

“Maybe he’s been sick or something?” he speculated. “Even in the mountain stages – and don’t get me wrong, he won two stages and beat everyone – but it wasn’t up to the standards he set alongside Pogacar.

“If he had been at his best, the gap to Gall would have been bigger. Although Gall has improved a lot as well. It just feels like the uphill gap has shrunk, and even in the time trial, it didn’t seem to go smoothly. Still, he’s in a very good position,” Thomas added, concluding: “Part of me thinks he’s not at 100 percent, but anyway.”

Alberto Contador voiced a similar view as an analyst on Eurosport. “It’s clear we’re not seeing Vingegaard at his very best. Maybe he’s at 80 percent, expecting to improve later. Though it’s always difficult to talk in percentages and figures.”

Vingegaard also has the Tour de France ahead, which may explain his current condition, according to Contador. The Spaniard believes the Giro is still not decided. “The fact that Vingegaard isn’t in top form leaves, even if slightly, other opportunities open for the Maglia Rosa.”