"Is it because you don't believe you can win?" - Bjarne Riis questions Jonas Vingegaard's reluctance to confirm Rwanda World Championship participation

In 2025, the World Championship road race seems to be the most climber friendly in a long time. As such, the calls for Team Visma | Lease a Bike superstar Jonas Vingegaard to make a first appearance in Danish colours are growing. Despite the recent announcement of his plans for 2025 though, the Dane refused to fully commit to a trip to Rwanda, much to the confusion of his compatriot Bjarne Riis.

"That's the plan right now. But a lot can happen, and it also depends on how tired you are after two Grand Tours," Vingegaard said recently of a potential World Championship participation at the team's training camp in eastern Spain. According to Riis though, Vingegaard should much more determined in his quest for a Rainbow Jersey.

"Somewhere I want to say that I'm surprised he doesn't make it clearer. That it is his program. If he goes down with the flag during the Vuelta, it's of course a new reality. But when it comes to a world-class rider like Jonas Vingegaard, in my opinion it's just a question of head and motivation," 1996 Tour de France winner Riis says in conversation with BT.dk. "Yes, it's tough to ride the Vuelta right before the World Championship, but he may not get another chance like that to become world champion. Why doesn't he make a clear statement? Jonas, is it because you don't believe you can win the World Championship?"

"In my opinion, he might as well have said that he will definitely race the World Championship. It's probably because he's afraid of being tired after the Vuelta and needs a break," Riis continues. "If he gets shaved by Pogacar in the Spanish, he probably doesn't have the motivation to race the World Championship. I can't see any other reservations. Unless he has other priorities. And then you wonder what they should be."

As mentioned, one of the main reasons Riis doubts his compatriot's presence is that Vingegaard potentially lacks the faith in his eventual victory. "Why is it that you don't announce it clearly? What is it that makes you unable to do it? I don't buy the premise that you can crash and many things can happen. You have to have a plan as a starting point, and there will always be unknowns in a season," says the 60-year-old. "If he doesn't believe it, then I understand the statement. But if he believes he can win the World Championship, why doesn't he say he's racing - without ambiguity? And how bad would it really be if it fails and he comes second to Pogacar and takes home the World Championship silver? Would it really be disappointing to be beaten by someone who is better?"

"The route is not going to be better for him. Many of us don't understand why it doesn't seem like an honour for Jonas to ride for the national team," Riis concludes. "If it isn't, and he doesn't prioritize it, it's fair enough to announce it. I could also imagine that the national coach would really like to know what he has to do well."