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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