"He prefers peace and quiet to money" - Holm compares Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar's off-the-bike status
Cycling
Rivalries are what fuels sport to a whole different level and over the 2020's, pro cycling has seen two riders stand out from the rest when it comes to the Grand Tours: Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard. This rivalry is further accentuated by the duo's difference in personality and off-the-bike living, which is outlined by former sports director Brian Holm.
"On paper, he should also be living in Monaco and evading taxes. And starring in a Rolex commercial. But he doesn't want that either," Brian Holm said to Ekstra Bladet regarding Jonas Vingegaard. "Most others would break their arm to be in such a commercial." The Dane, through his results - which include two Tour de France titles and much more - earns one of the largest salaries in the pro peloton, estimated to be between 4 and 5 million euros. It is no match for what Tadej Pogacar earns at UAE Team Emirates - XRG as the face of the sport, but Holm argues that this is not an issue.
Vingegaard is a father of two and over the year has often shown to be a rather introvert rider, who enjoys more his time off the spotlight when he is not in competition. He has also not moved into tax havens such as Monaco or Andorra; or to the Spanish Mediterranean coast - in this case mostly for the good weather, as did most other top riders in recent years.
"He doesn't wear a Richard Mille watch either. He doesn't really care. He might as well tell the time on a Casio. I just find it charming". Holm, a compatriot and man that knows Vingegaard quite well, praises the 29-year olds way of living and priorities. "That his family is doing well, that he's safe, and that he doesn't have too many obligations when he's not working. Jonas earns more money than most people will earn in a lifetime, but he seems very relaxed about it. He prefers peace and quiet to money."
Peace and quiet over money
Whilst Pogacar can't ordinarily fall under any criticism over the difference in lifestyle, it is an interesting observation on how two very different personalities have managed to climb to the top of the sport in their own very specific ways, and their rivalry has also led to the creation of the major rivalry between Team Visma | Lease a Bike and UAE Team Emirates - XRG that has fueled the past few years in the three-week races.
"I just don't think money drives him. I don't think he cares. I actually find it very endearing—it's hard not to like that he prefers living in Denmark and paying taxes. Even though he could earn twice as much in Monaco. He has a Volvo, he doesn't show up everywhere... He has no interest in watching Formula 1 races and being seen with the stars... That's just the way he is," Holm describes. "I just don't think he's interested".
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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- He struggled yes. dropped jonas many times won a stage over him and podiumed TDF dropped sexias too. What a struggle lol. What a joke u are Best part of all this was you no jonas is alot better then proceeeds to say he beat him with 19 sec on two stages hahahahaha. Del toro won stages and dropped him amny times even and their trajectory is self explanory. And oh yes he climbed better than jonas did all year in dauphine, the numbers never lie keep living in 2023 and be shocked. Cba talking with somoene who cant even deal with common sense. be objective to factual numbers even, waste of time hahamiguel14-11-2026
- Who’s gifting grand tours at UAE? Defo not Pogi! Stage wins maybe.Lozza13-11-2026
- Sepp Kuss Vuelta 2023.Lozza13-11-2026
- they have no expertise with classics, they have no leaders in classics. the classics is dominated by the few Fuori Classe riders where other riders are left with scraps. the Hiring , the salaries dont make sense at all. Same problem as Man Utd. over paid players, egos, very little performanceabstractengineer13-11-2026
- Contract year means you gotta win, at least collect UCI points, helping be damnedabstractengineer13-11-2026
- Arensman is their best rider and he is paid very less in comparisonabstractengineer13-11-2026
- I'm not trying to argue with you but if you didn't see Del Toro struggling in the Tour I'll pay for some glasses for you lol. He struggled so much that Tadej missed winning stage 15, Tadej also dropped the pace along some stages to help Del Toro hold onto the podium. Now he may have been sick, that is a possibility, but he definitely struggled. You have a nice weekend as well brother.awp13-11-2026
- Im not copmaring him to jonas palmares...but current level of power and again like you even pointed out 19sec difference and on other ocassions del toro dropping him. Its evidently their close and based on both their different trajectory its self explanatory...where we are next year.And Del Toro didnt struggle if getting a podium in his first TDF at 22 year old is struggling you sure dont know how to be objective haha. But have a good weekend this is so dumb to discuss as its not even a discussin in reality as facts speak for themselves of what were actually speaking of - and self explanatory.miguel13-11-2026
- fingers crossed. my son has a poster of wout and mathieu battling each other at the beach at ostend up in his room. would be great to see them again there!Ketterechts13-11-2026
- This Giro is very strange in it's circular route. If you were to have stage starting in Trieste and ending atop Monte Zoncolan (end stage 20) you'd get a stage only 145 km long
Rafionain-Glas13-11-2026
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