"Imagine a race without Jonas Vingegaard - Would be far less exciting" - Thijs Zonneveld argues Vuelta winner still underrated by fans
Cycling
In an era defined by explosive talent and aggressive racing, Jonas Vingegaard has emerged as perhaps the most efficient and tactically disciplined Grand Tour rider of his generation. Yet despite back-to-back Tour de France victories and now a maiden Vuelta a Espana title, the Dane still doesn't command the fanfare that often surrounds his great rival, Tadej Pogacar.
“People say he’s not a showman,” said Dutch analyst and former professional rider Thijs Zonneveld this week on the In de Waaier podcast. “But imagine a race without Vingegaard. Grand Tours would be far less exciting.”
Zonneveld’s defence of the Team Visma | Lease a Bike leader comes in the wake of a Vuelta campaign that was anything but straightforward. Vingegaard ultimately came away with three stage wins and the overall victory, but the dominance wasn’t of the same magnitude fans have come to expect — and that, according to Zonneveld, is exactly what made it special. “This wasn’t a dominant Vingegaard. He wasn’t otherworldly – he was human. And that’s what made it so impressive.”
Post-Tour Fallout
Zonneveld is convinced that the brutal 2025 Tour de France left lasting scars on the peloton — and Vingegaard was no exception. “Everyone who raced the Tour took a real hit,” he said. “Physically and mentally, it was tougher than in previous years. The early hilly stages were full gas from the gun. Every day was a war of attrition, even for the top names.”
The intense rivalry between Visma and UAE added another layer of pressure. “Already in week one, riders were complaining — and then the hardest part was still to come. You could see they were all drained. So to turn around and ride the Vuelta at that level? That’s extraordinary.”
Mental Fortitude Over Fireworks
Vingegaard’s Vuelta wasn’t won through sheer dominance, but through resilience, timing, and deep reserves of mental strength. Zonneveld emphasises that it’s exactly this kind of effort that should earn greater respect.
“He was under pressure often. He didn’t ride with the sense of invincibility he sometimes has in the Tour. That made his concentration and consistency all the more impressive. He just about held off a strong ride from Almeida — and that makes his victory even more meaningful.”
Zonneveld also points out the psychological strain of carrying expectations. “When you’re considered one of the very best stage racers, the only outcome that satisfies people is victory. If you feel you’re not at your peak, and still stay mentally locked in for three weeks, that’s a huge accomplishment.”
The Calculating Rival
Part of why Vingegaard’s wins don’t always generate the same level of enthusiasm is that his style is less explosive, more measured — particularly when compared to the attacking flair of Pogacar. “Vingegaard isn’t a showman. He has to calculate. He’s not as mercurial as Pogacar, but that vulnerability actually makes him compelling. You see him make decisions under pressure, and that’s what keeps races alive.”
When fully prepared, Vingegaard’s level can be suffocatingly high — but when he's coming off a more turbulent schedule, as in this Vuelta, the gaps narrow. “Give him eight weeks to prepare and he becomes nearly untouchable. But when he’s carrying fatigue or hasn’t built specifically towards a race, you see just how close the competition really is. And still — he wins.”
Vingegaard took the stage win on Saturday
Re-evaluating His Legacy
Zonneveld’s central message is clear: Vingegaard’s consistency and racecraft deserve far more credit from the fanbase than they often receive. “He’s not always spectacular — but take him out of the equation, and Grand Tours become far less interesting. His presence forces others to be better. He’s changed the tactical shape of modern stage racing.”
In a time where flashiness often garners more attention than function, Vingegaard continues to win with calculation, composure, and near-constant presence at the sharp end of cycling’s biggest races. And for Zonneveld — and for any student of the sport — that is far from boring.
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.
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- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- 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
- 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
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