"He’d get destroyed by Pogacar in a one-day race. The Worlds or Lombardia isn’t the Tour’s stage 1" - French ex-pro dismisses Jonas Vingegaard's Rainbow Jersey ambitions

Jonas Vingegaard has become a fixture at the top of Grand Tour podiums — but when it comes to cycling’s most prestigious one-day races, serious doubts remain. On Eurosport France’s Bistrot Vélo podcast, former pro Thomas Rossetto didn’t mince words when asked about Vingegaard’s prospects at the World Championships or Il Lombardia.

“He’d get destroyed by Pogacar in a one-day race. The Worlds or Lombardia isn’t the Tour’s stage 1,” Rossetto said flatly, questioning whether the Dane is built for the demands of single-day racing.

The remark came in the context of Vingegaard’s status as overwhelming favourite for the Vuelta a Espana — where his Grand Tour credentials are not in question. But the podcast’s discussion quickly pivoted to a more speculative topic: could Vingegaard eventually challenge Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel in the Monuments or at the World Championships?

The host of the show expressed a growing curiosity shared by many cycling fans: seeing Vingegaard test himself beyond the Grand Tours. “I want to see that matchup — not in stage races, but in one-day races,” he said. “On hard, hilly terrain, Vingegaard is Pogacar’s best rival. I just want to see a real battle.”

Rossetto however, was more sceptical. “One-day races aren’t Grand Tour stages,” he said. “The Kigali Worlds will be 250 kilometres — six or seven hours on the bike. That’s a different sport. Vingegaard’s not used to that kind of racing.”

It’s hard to argue with the facts. Vingegaard has barely featured in one-day events in recent years. Since the start of the 2024 season, he has entered just one: the Clásica San Sebastián, which he did not finish. And he’s never lined up for the Worlds as a professional. Nor has he ever raced the Olympic Games.

As such, Rossetto remains unconvinced: “I’ve seen what happens when riders try to cross over. He’s not one of the few who can do both. At Worlds? I’d bet against him every time.”

Where there is no division between the analysts is in Vingegaard’s position as Vuelta a Espana favourite. In their star ratings for the race, Vingegaard was the only rider to receive five stars. UAE duo João Almeida and Juan Ayuso were each given three. No one was awarded four — a deliberate decision to reflect the gap between the Dane and the rest.

“I might have given four stars to Ayuso and Almeida. But beyond those three, there’s a big drop-off,” explained Rossetto. “I just hope Almeida and Ayuso aren’t already three minutes behind after Andorra. Because if Vingegaard is in Tour form, it might be over before it starts.”

Vingegaard’s 2025 campaign has been deliberately sparse. He raced in the Algarve early in the season, suffered a crash at Paris–Nice, returned for the Critérium du Dauphiné, and then the Tour de France. That’s been his entire calendar. “He hasn’t raced much in the past year and a half — maybe too little,” Rossetto said. “But the Vuelta could be where he hits his peak.”

There were signs during the Tour that Vingegaard had his eyes on the Vuelta. He notably avoided contesting the Champs-Élysées, and looked to be riding more conservatively in the final stages. For Rossetto, this was no accident. “He was thinking ahead. He didn’t burn all his matches. And unlike last year, when he finished behind Sepp Kuss, this time I think he’ll want the win himself.”

For now, Vingegaard’s dominance remains tied to three-week races. Whether that legacy ever extends to cycling’s one-day classics is a question still unanswered — and perhaps, one that Vingegaard has yet to ask himself.