"I feel myself getting stronger" – Jonas Vingegaard says the onus is now on Vuelta rivals to attack after Stage 9 fireworks give him GC control

With the first rest day of the 2025 Vuelta a Espana offering a moment of pause, Jonas Vingegaard finds himself in an increasingly commanding position — both physically and tactically — as the race heads into its second week.

After a decisive performance on Stage 9, the Dane has carved out a 38-second advantage over João Almeida in the general classification, a gap that not only consolidates his ambitions but shifts the strategic burden onto his rivals. “It’s obviously a big positive to have gained a bit of time in the GC – it puts me in a really strong position now,” Vingegaard told TV 2 Sport during Monday's rest day. “From here on, it’s more up to the others to attack me – so to speak. I might go for more stage wins as well, so we’ll see what happens in the coming week.”

The two-time Tour de France champion has looked increasingly assured as the Vuelta’s mountainous terrain begins to take its toll. While early finishes left him just short of his best, Vingegaard believes Sunday’s performance marks a turning point. “I think my form is really good. In the previous stage finishes, I maybe didn’t quite have the legs I had today, so it’s great to feel myself getting stronger as the race goes on,” he said. “I thought my legs were much better today than they were in Andorra and the day after.”

Asked whether he’s riding with the same condition that brought him victory in July’s Tour de France, Vingegaard was cautious — but confident. “They’re close, I’d say.”

With high mountains still to come, the Vuelta is far from decided. But Vingegaard now has the upper hand, not just in terms of time, but tactics.

His closest rival on paper, João Almeida, trails him by 38 seconds and will need to go on the offensive if he’s to reverse the trend. Meanwhile, riders like Tom Pidcock, Felix Gall, Giulio Ciccone, and others all sit within striking range, but none have yet shown the same upward trajectory that Vingegaard now claims.

With each passing stage, the psychological dynamic shifts: Vingegaard is no longer the chaser — he’s the rider everyone else must drop even if he doesn't yet have the Red Jersey on his shoulders.

One of the key advantages Vingegaard holds is the ability to race reactively. As the strongest climbers in the field look to chip away at his lead, he can afford to sit back, follow wheels, and strike when it counts — just as he did on Stage 9.

And while the time gaps remain relatively slim, the confidence gap may be widening. Vingegaard is well-versed in winning Grand Tours from the front, and his comments on rest day suggest he’s exactly where he wants to be. “It’s great to be improving,” he said. “Now it’s up to them.”