"I believe I can do it" - Jonas Vingegaard will not abandon ambitions of beating Tadej Pogacar at the Tour de France
Cycling
Jonas Vingegaard won the Saitama Criterium in the traditional end-of-campaign exhibition race that he attended with other big stars of world cycling such as Primoz Roglic or Jonathan Milan. In Japan, he has talked about plenty topics including next season's Grand Tour choices, Cian Uitjtdebroeks' departure from Visma and his rivalry with Tadej Pogacar.
There in Japan he gave an exclusive interview to Daniel Miranda in the newspaper AS in which he reviewed his season, his victory in the Vuelta a España, his future, the Tour de France and the signing of his former teammate in Visma Cian Uijtdebroeks by Movistar Team:
Plans and training
In December I'm going with the team (Visma) and I think it will be in the Alicante area, I'm not sure, to start training together. Not to Malaga, but I would like to go back because it is an area that I love: the city, the weather... it would be good to return.
Tour de France 2026
It has a very tough third week, but the first two are somewhat easier than the previous two years. It will be interesting to see how it progresses, because it is true that the third week is more demanding than in recent editions.
Visma reinforcements
I would say that they have tried to reinforce us by bringing in some fast men for sprints and also with several climbers to work on the climbs.
Calendar and objectives
In December or January we already make the plan for the whole year and there is no problem in making it public. Sure! We haven't decided anything yet, but I've already done two Grand Tours twice in my career (2023 and 2025, both Tour and Vuelta) and the preparation is slightly different if you do only one. I already won La Vuelta and I'm not saying I don't want to come back, but it's true that the Giro is something I'm missing having never participated and it's a race I'd like to win. We have to look at the team's objectives and also mine for the season to make a decision.
Vingegaard talks about Uijtdebroeks in his interview in AS
Pogacar and his duels on the Tour
It's what gives me confidence and what serves me to believe that I can do it again, and I hope it will be next year 2026. As you say, I'm probably the only rider who has ever beaten you in a stage race. It would be amazing to do it again and I believe I can do it.
Vuelta a España podium
First of all, I was very disappointed for not being able to enjoy the podium but, on the other hand, we experienced something very special in the hotel parking lot with other teammates and it is something I will never forget.
Departure of Cian Uijtdebroeks to Movistar
He's a great kid. Obviously, he wasn't happy, so the best thing for him was a way out. I wish him all the best and now he will be another competitor for us.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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- JV is really slighting himself with not doing the 1 dayers.. 🤷
leedorney02-11-2026 - Watch the interview on youtube. I don't speak French. I do speak English and Spanish and you can hear it in his voice. Years ago LeMond had real personal problems I imagine in no small part because of Armstrong. then Armstrong goes round "full blast" re: LeMond having drinking and drug problems. The same way Andreu was expelled from mainstream cycling so was LeMond. On the positive side the clips of the ride and chatting with old teammates and was good. To seemed like a fun day and experience and good reason brush up his French.atom02-11-2026
- and another no-news article around the ‚2 tokyo jogging rounds‘ headline, this time spiced with some days old ‚news‘ that the LA and japan vacation trips come during or after the tdf route release. i am getting more and more annoyed by this time-stealing no-news crap. but who am i to complain? nobody forces me to come back for more ‚news‘ day after day …Ketterechts02-11-2026
- It would likely be a very steep section of 4.1 km, not changing the average gradient considerably, with the climb remaining 10.1 km at 11.8%. It would reach 20% on the gravel. It would start 1.6 km in, and finish with 4.2 km left to climb (before the short final descent)
Rafionain-Glas02-11-2026 - Welcome to the off-season.
santiagobenites02-11-2026 - guillaume martin in this list is quite a surprise as a gc rider.Ketterechts02-11-2026
- Who cares what Bruyneel thinks. He and his best mate Lance, the biggest fraud in the history of sport, have no place commenting on anything but how to lie and cheat!whit2pet02-11-2026
- Eeesh!Lozza02-11-2026
- bravo! a rider likes jonas needs motivation and he needs to believe in being able to reach goals. he - like anybody else in the world - doesn't believe that he can win the tdf with pogi present. and what's it worth for when pogi is not there? second class victory only. he has checked all three grand tours, so what is left if not retire? the classics! go for it, jonas!Ketterechts02-11-2026
- i am sure that under the pretext of medical examination a lot worse has happened when they were under.abstractengineer02-11-2026
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