"I can compete for victory in races like these" – Jonas Vingegaard looks for answers after European Championship disappointment
Cycling
Another brutal one-day test, another Tadej Pogacar masterclass. But while the Slovenian superstar rode to yet another solo victory – this time from a staggering 75 kilometres out – behind him, one of his biggest rivals endured a very different day.
For Jonas Vingegaard, the 2025 European Championships were meant to be a statement of his one-day capbilities. Instead, they turned into a quiet collapse.
Dropped with over 100 kilometres to go – long before the fireworks had even begun – the Dane’s ambitions of claiming the European title were over almost as soon as they had begun. It was a strikingly early exit for one of the sport’s elite climbers and a Tour de France winner, especially given the pre-race talk of targeting more one-day success.
“The legs just weren’t there today”
After the finish, a candid Vingegaard didn’t attempt to hide his disappointment. “I had hoped for more,” he admitted in conversation with Feltet.dk. “But sometimes you just don’t have the legs – and today was one of those days.”
With the race’s punishing profile featuring repeated climbs of the Côte de Saint-Romain-de-Lerps, it quickly became clear that the Danish star was in trouble. As early as the first ascent, Vingegaard showed signs of strain, and when the peloton split under pressure from Slovenia and Belgium, he was among the first big names to lose contact.
“I was already suffering on the first climb,” he said. “From there, I was hoping things might improve, and for a bit they did. But when the real attacks came, it was just too much. I couldn’t follow.”
Questions over form and fatigue
Vingegaard suggested that the early implosion might be down to his demanding race calendar and lack of focused preparation for this specific event. “Maybe it was just a bad day. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve had a tough programme lately, or if my shape isn’t quite where it needs to be. But today wasn’t good – that’s for sure.”
In contrast to rivals like Pogacar and Evenepoel, who arrived with clear form and momentum, Vingegaard’s build-up had been notably lighter. The Dane made it clear that his appearance at the Euros was more about national pride and testing his legs than a full-scale assault on the podium. “I haven’t had the best preparation for this. I mainly came to race in the national colours and to see how I’d go.”
Despite the disappointment, Vingegaard was adamant that this performance doesn’t change his long-term ambitions. With major one-day races like Liège–Bastogne–Liège and Il Lombardia still on his radar, the Dane remains convinced that he can one day challenge for victory in the monuments and championships. “It’s not like I’ve lost faith,” he said. “If I prepare properly, I believe I can compete for victory in races like these.”
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
claps 9visitors 5
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
Loading
Write a comment