"I can compete for victory in races like these" – Jonas Vingegaard looks for answers after European Championship disappointment

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.

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.”

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.”