"He races too little - what is he paid all year for?" - Roger De Vlaeminck criticizes Jonas Vingegaard
CyclingMonday, 16 June 2025 at 00:28
In the Criterium du Dauphiné, the superiority of Tadej Pogacar over Jonas Vingegaard is being tremendous. The Slovenian has defeated his Danish counterpart in two summit finishes in a row and, with one stage to go, is more than 1 minute ahead of him in the general classification.
For Vingegaard and Visma | Lease a Bike, this situation is far from ideal. With the Tour de France just around the corner, the feeling was only really good in the time trial, but it didn't help much.
Perhaps Jonas Vingegaard is suffering from riding so few races. This is something the Dane has often been criticized for in recent years. Now, with the Tour approaching and with what we saw in Dauphiné, legends Eddy Merckx and Roger de Vlaeminck have been the latest to point it out.
Vingegaard can't beat Pogacar in Dauphiné
"Jonas Vingegaard races very little. And at the Paris-Nice at the beginning of the year he didn't make a good impression on me," Merckx began by pointing out. "It's true that Vingegaard is a good stage racer, but he doesn't race - what is he paid all year for?" added De Vlaeminck forcefully.
Pogacar already superior to Merckx?
It was through Het Nieuwsblad where the two iconic cycling figures had this conversation, where they also talked about the figure of Tadej Pogacar. Although the Slovenian is making history every time he races, De Vlaeminck wanted to make it clear that he still has a long way to go to surpass Eddy Merckx, if ever:
"Today, everybody talks about Tadej Pogacar. But when I watch the races, there is no one like Eddy, not even half, not even Pogacar. Maybe I exaggerate a little bit, but not much," stated Roger De Vlaeminck.
Barring a memorable comeback by Jonas Vingegaard on stage 8, Tadej Pogacar will win his first Criterium du Dauphiné and will continue to add to his already historic list of victories at the age of 26.
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Some ex-pros age gracefully. Others carve out a career as professional curmudgeons.
Eddy Jerckx?
This site sure loves to publish provocative nonsense from pundits.
I’m sure many in the peloton were happy the day Roger stepped back.
In his day riders were surviving grand tours with panini for f$&* sake.
Why doesn’t he rail against Remco for doing the same thing as Jonas?
Don’t understand why you compare to Remco. I think a few of these old guys are just jealous of the money these days
If he shouldn't be paid all year, then I suggest that he shouldn't train all year. Just train a bit before a stage race and up you go for the race. Better still, cut off his benefits and salaries when he's injured because he's not racing and contributing to the team while injured. Is this how it is supposed to operate?
This is one of silliest piece that I have read. Cycling has changed and these oldies are still stuck in the old way of thinking. I want to see riders who race as much as the oldies and see how they fare against those who are well trained in the modern approach.
The fact that he doesn't do much racing is due to injuries and family obligation. This article is basically finding problem where there is none.
Just look at the 2nd picture, who actually looks like they're racing? hint it's the guy on the right...
Zoom in - Vingo was suffering like mad while Tadej was fresh at the top. I sure hope we don’t learn one day that Tadej has “help” - would be heart breaking
Of course Tadej has help. Same as not only Vingegaard and every other World Tour rider, but every professional athlete. Is it possible some pharmaceutical company invested billions of dollars in some miraculous genetic therapy or enhancer to secretly give it to just one guy in some obscure sport? Uh, no. What you are watching isn't just more of an even playing field than any local master's race--it is as fair as professional sport has managed to make things. If that is heartbreaking to you, or you only like to see winners exposed and punished, then competition is not for you--not as a spectator, and certainly not as a participant.
Screw you
Boy, the guy on the left must be pretty good if he can wipe the floor with all but onewithout looking like he’s racing.
One year ago, Jonas suffered a life-threatening injury that only a decade ago would have been a career-ending injury. Then a concussion this year. He talked about it ! People can die from such injuries - weeks after a concussion due to a slow-growing hematoma.
He was only 14 seconds back on Tadej Pogacar after 4500m of climbing ! You critics are nitwits about medicine. You could just get by on macho bravado, and luck that your career wasn't ended by injury.
Look at the crash scene footage of a year ago, and tell me you would have recovered from slamming into a 2 ft. square box/ditch of concrete. at 30kph. I don't think any of you would have.
Further what did Armstrong do ? He targeted the TDF exclusively and he wasn't even recovering from injury. He made plenty of money for himself especially .- and his team.
some of these oldies are crazy. The eras are different
From the discussion and publicity his not racing seems to develop, he’s obviously worth the investment, Visma is still just as discussed and known as UAE, despite not winning as much nowadays.