A fired-up Vingegaard doesn't mince his words: Pogacar must and will be defeated: "I'm more determined than ever"

The spring did not go entirely according to plan for Vingegaard. In Paris-Nice, he crashed hard and had to abandon the race with a concussion and a bruised hand. "I had to take it easy for a while," said the unfortunate Dane. "I had to nap every hour for the first three or four days. I had a concussion and was really suffering. But every day, it got a little better, and on Monday, I could sit on the bike for an hour. However, that backfired, and I had to return to bed because I felt dizzy and nauseous. I had to take a lot of rest, but a week after the crash, things were already improving."

It wasn't ideal, but in 2024, the situation was even worse. The Tour of the Basque Country crash had even more significant consequences. "The crash in Paris-Nice is nothing compared to last year's. It was a disappointment, but hopefully, I won't experience anything like last year again. Missing Catalonia only motivates me more. So it wasn't that bad, that crash. Last year's crash had a much bigger impact on me mentally."

Vingegaard calls the crash in Paris- Nice, perhaps the stupidest crash I've ever had. However, the consequences were more serious than expected, and the former Tour winner criticized the medical team in France. "I had to go to the race doctor because of my bloody face. But they never checked for concussion, which I find strange. I had broken glasses and wounds on my eyebrow. I think in the future, they should check more thoroughly if someone has visible injuries above the shoulders."

Anyway, that's in the past. Vingegaard is currently on top of the Sierra Nevada for altitude training. He is working on fine-tuning everything for the Tour. "It's clear that we've changed a few things. For example, we've changed the cranks, but we've also tried a few other things. Every year, we try to improve our equipment, but we also look at the preparations for the Tour. I won't go into details; you'll see if it works. It's a secret," he laughs.

Some riders feel uncomfortable during altitude training, but Vingegaard actually draws energy from it. "Of course, I love racing, but I also love training here in the Sierra Nevada. We're here with the group for several reasons, and the mood is good. But I also love the whole process of getting in tip-top shape for the Tour. Thinking about how you can be stronger than last year and previous years. The thoughts and reasoning behind it are fascinating.“

Better than last year, it's a requirement. Last year, Tadej Pogacar beat the Dane by more than six minutes in the Tour. "I also have to be better than ever to win. It looks promising at the moment, but it's difficult to compare. My spring season ended in March, while two years ago, it ended in April. It's different, but for now, it seems like I've taken a small step forward. Hopefully, I can improve on last year and the year before."

Considering the circumstances, last year's loss in the Tour wasn't so bad. But he wants to win the Tour at all costs. "I'm more determined than ever. Last year I had that nasty crash in the Tour of the Basque Country, and I didn't have the best preparation for the Tour de France. I also crashed again in the spring this year and had to take a week off. But it also feels like I had to skip the whole spring, so in that sense, I'm even more motivated to go to the Tour de France and the other upcoming races."

Before the Tour, Vingegaard will only ride the Critérium du Dauphiné. Having only eight days of racing after such a long break seems insufficient. But cycling has changed, according to the 28-year-old climber. "It's funny: 10 years ago, people always said you needed races to reach your best level. But during COVID, there were no races for six months, and when we could race again, the level was extremely high. Everyone has taken a step forward, so having a more extended rest period is not a disadvantage. We'll see how it works out for me in the Dauphiné and the Tour."

After the Dauphiné, the main goal is set: the Tour de France. And that will be a fight from week one because there are some challenging stages. "There are a lot of important stages this year. The mountain stages and time trials are always important, but many stages require you to be at the front in the first week. It will be hectic, and you shouldn't underestimate it."

That first week will normally be no problem for Pogacar, who showed himself as the top favorite on every course during the spring. The Slovenian rider seemed better than ever in the spring. "It's very impressive to see what he's done in the spring. All those races, all those victories, it's unbelievable, and I admire how good he is. But for the Tour, I can only focus on myself and get there in the best possible shape. I'm not thinking about how good he was or will be. Being the best in the spring doesn't mean you'll be the best in the Tour. I've improved every year, and this year looks like it will be no different. I believe I can beat him and do much better this year."

The Tour will end with a stage in Paris, but not with the usual sprinters' party on the Champs-Élysées. The riders will have to climb Montmartre, which was part of the route for the Paris stage of the Olympics. Vingegaard is not a fan of the change. "I don't know enough about it. I know we'll do Montmartre, but we don't know how many kilometers we'll have to ride after that. It was fun to do at the Olympics, with many people on the sidelines. But then there were only 50 riders in the peloton. Now, there will be 150 of us fighting for positions on a very narrow climb. It will probably be more stressful than anyone had anticipated."

In the Tour, the Danish leader of Visma | Lease a Bike can count on a strong team. Matteo Jorgenson will play a vital role in that select group. "Matteo is going to be very important in the Tour," says his teammate. "He is very, very strong, as we saw in the spring. He has taken another step forward this year, and hopefully, he can show that in the Tour de France. But the whole team will be important. It looks like we will be very strong."

Merijn Zeeman is absent for the first time. The former team boss has left to join the football club AZ. "It's a bit strange the first few months without him. We had to get used to it, but we still have very good people who can make a plan and ensure that everything goes well," says Vingegaard. He is still in contact with the Dutchman, although less frequently. "It's been a while, but he still follows cycling. He is very busy, of course, and so am I. It's not the end because we will stay in touch."

After the Tour, Vingegaard will most likely be at the start of the Vuelta a España. "I'm here on altitude training, then going to the Dauphiné and the Tour. But the plan is still to do the Vuelta," he confirms but emphasizes: "As I've said many times, the main goal is the Tour. After that, we'll see how I feel, but it's part of the plan."

In 2023, the Dane finished second in the Vuelta a España, between teammates Sepp Kuss and Primoz Roglic. That's when he realized that doing the double Vuelta-Tour is manageable. "I did it two years ago, and I really enjoyed it. Many riders find it difficult to find the motivation after the Tour, but for the Vuelta, you only have to train for three weeks, and then you're there. Mentally, it's easier to string that together. My level was super high two years ago, so I think it's possible."

Vingegaard has never participated in the world championships. He was criticized for this in Denmark, but a start in Rwanda seems closer than ever: the Danish national coach was already certain. "I've never tried it, so I can't really answer that. I'm still very interested, but it depends on how I feel after the Vuelta. But it's in the back of my mind."

Finally: the Giro d'Italia. Vingegaard is not in Italy, but he did hear in his training camp how his teammate Wout van Aert phenomenally secured his first victory of the season. "We are fortunate that we can always watch the race during lunch, in this case the Giro. Unfortunately, we had a long ride yesterday, so I was still on the road when he won. But I know what he's been through over the past year. I'm very happy for him, and he really deserves it. Hopefully, he can win even more."