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"Even a Vingegaard has to be 100% to win" - Stijn Steels believes it will be hard for Jonas Vingegaard to win Vuelta a Espana
CyclingWednesday, 26 July 2023 at 20:07
Jonas Vingegaard is heading to the Vuelta a Espana after his win at the Tour de France and it will be an interesting plot for the upcoming weeks. How well will he fare in Spain, what will his role be, and will he be able to be the first rider since Chris Froome to win two Grand Tours in the same year.
"The more top riders against each other, the more fun, of course. It will make the Vuelta even more attractive, will increase the spectacle," Stijn Steels told Sporza. "I am curious about Vingegaard's approach, because his preparation for the Vuelta will not be as it should be. All his competitors are already with form, while he still has to recover from his Tour victory and then build up again."
Steels, former Soudal - Quick-Step rider, is aware that his former teammate Remco Evenepoel is among those preparing with a high degree of focus towards the Vuelta and will make life hard for the Dane. The likes of Juan Ayuso and João Almeida for UAE Team Emirates, Geraint Thomas for INEOS Grenadiers and Vingegaard's teammate Primoz Roglic will also be at the start and aiming high and that will be a significant challenge for Vingegaard.
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Specially as his preparation was built towards the Tour, and now the Vuelta is a different challenge. "It will be difficult to be 100% at the start. And even a Vingegaard has to be 100% to win, I think," the Belgian argues. "If you are a world class rider, you are expected to be able to beat everyone. Knowing Remco it will only give him more motivation, because now he can beat anyone. It would give a possible overall victory even more prestige."
In any scenario it is expected to be a Vuelta packed with fireworks, with an explosive route that features plenty hilly and mountainous days. The startlist will be of high quality, and Steels wonders on how Vingegaard will do against the riders who have specifically prepared these last few months ahead of the final Grand Tour of the season.
"Purely in terms of class, Vingegaard is currently almost unbeatable when it comes to a race of 3 weeks. At least if he can prepare optimally. But as I said: I don't think he can be 100%. If Vingegaard is only 95%, I think they will be worth each other. You will also have to be at the top level for 3 weeks if you want to win this Vuelta. The course is very difficult, there are at least 12 stages where the top riders "have to be awake". That's why I'm giving Remco a chance."
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