"He is the only one who can follow Pogacar... He can win the World Championship" - Jonas Vingegaard urged by Matti Breschel to head to Rwanda in 2025
CyclingFriday, 11 October 2024 at 14:48
Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar have had a Tour de France rivalry for the ages over the last few years. Although the Slovenian can be seen competing for victories across the year and in various different kinds of races, Vingegaard is more accustomed to exclusively stage races. Could that change in 2025 though?
The 2025 World Championships take place in Rwanda, with the African nation offering up an incredibly challenging course that includes almost 5,500 meters of climbing. As such, some of those more typically suited for one day races such as Mathieu van der Poel are unsure they'll even start. That leaves the 2024 Rainbow Jersey winner Pogacar as a clear favourite on the climber-friendly course. Following the appointment of Vingegaard's good friend Michael Morkov to Danish national coach and the potentially ideal parcours in Rwanda, two time World Championship podium finisher Matti Breschel believes the stars may be aligning for a Vingegaard Rainbow Jersey challenge.
"Jonas, get started!" says the former Vuelta a Espana stage winner, who finished runner up at the 2010 World Championships behind Thor Hushovd and third in 2008 as Alessandro Ballan took victory, via the 'Radio Tour' programme on Max. "He is the only one who can follow Pogacar. I'm Sorry! He can win the World Championship, but there aren't many others who can do that on that route. We are talking over 5,000 meters of altitude."
Breschel isn't the only notable voice in Danish cycling hoping to see Vingegaard in the nation's colours next year. "He couldn't ask for anything better. Yes, maybe he should ask them to pave the entire route. But it is difficult to see that Jonas Vingegaard can get a route that is much better," adds another Danish ex-pro, Michael Rasmussen for Ekstra Bladet.
Whether it happens or not remains to be seen, but the prospect of another chapter being written in Pogacar and Vingegaard's epic rivalry is one sure to excite cycling fans the world over.
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- The peloton needs to move past LA Doper and its hordes. Why is UCI not doing enough to sanction the whole lot of LA Doper hordes from even indirectly in the sports that they tarnished?
KerisVroom12-06-2025 - Good spot that, won't make Jonas happy 😁
leedorney12-06-2025 - For me, I was able to open up the hip angle allowing me to get a good bit more aero, not so much on the road bike, but some. Mainly you'll see the aero benefits on the TT bike. It took some time to get used to them as well, feels like you are pedaling a kids bike at first, and then they just look odd. I'm 5'11" and ran 172.5 and then 165's until I bit the bullet and went to 155. It took me about 500 miles to really get used to them. Now I wouldn't trade them for anything.awp12-06-2025
- Yeah, I guess.. Some guys are just so good, they win without thinking or planning. He didn't plan on winning TDF2020 on his debut either, or being the highest paid cyclist in the peloton at 22yo.. I think Tadej is just tired - tired of hearing pundits say races are more exciting when he's not around. He even sarcastically told a reporter, who queried if he is out to win again, that he treats the Dauphine as a validation race, and not to worry because he would retire as soon as his UAE contract expires.FredMan12-06-2025
- Don't you ever touch another man's bike, boyyyy!yuckly12-06-2025
- Maybe I'm wrong because I don't read anything about it but in my perception he had some symptoms of allergy: hyperventilation, throat itchy (It's impossible that he drank water because he was thirsty after few minutes to start, his throat would itch)
maria2024202412-06-2025 - No, no complots or sophisticated deceptions. Simply, things went bad for Tadej, while the others did very well (Remco) or well (Jonas). From the start, Tadej was breathing excessively (hyperventilating), strangely drinking water just minutes after starting out. I read that in a sector he couldn't control the bike properly... Maybe all of that, and maybe he's still not in shape. It happens.maria2024202412-06-2025
- Wasn’t it 10km? Always possible though he’s not much if a planner ;-)Mistermaumau12-06-2025
- We’ve seen the basis of this with other riders/teams (where less money was involved but UAE money is cheap) already, how can you exclude it? Happens in orher sports too.Mistermaumau12-06-2025
- Can you elaborate a bit on what difference you notice or feel or how it changes your perception of effort on various types of terrain/intensity? Any pain or stress relief for sensitive parts?Mistermaumau12-06-2025
I'm sure he will have plans with his wife and kids on that day.
Maybe. But he really also only seems to like stage racing and that's ok.
Win or lose it would be great to have Jonas ride for Denmark on that course.
If he does the Vuelta prior to that, absolutely no chance. He would have to specifically prepare only for WC immediately after the Tour ends and it still probably won't be enough. On such a course Pogacar is borderline unbeatable
If Tadej doesn't do the Vuelta, Jonas can walk to the win and be quite fit for Rwanda. It'll be as easy as Tadej winning the Giro. Tadej was basically doing intervals doing the Giro because it was too easy and he didn't wanna get out of shape😅
Yes, but he will already have to go all out for the Tour, the Vuelta, even if easy, would be his 2nd consecutive GT. Not great