"It can't be a coincidence that Tadej Pogacar, Mathieu van der Poel & Remco Evenepoel are childless" - Analyst sees Jonas Vingegaard's family life as disadvantage

On stage 1 of the 2025 Criterium du Dauphiné, the four biggest names in the peloton all came out to play as Tadej Pogacar, Mathieu van der Poel, Remco Evenepoel and Jonas Vingegaard launched attacks. According to one Dutch analyst however, taking a wider look at the cycling calendar, Vingegaard is at a distinct disadvantage compared to his rivals.

According to 42-year-old Dutchman Stef Clement, who ended his pro career riding for Team LottoNL-Jumbo - the now-Team Visma | Lease a Bike - Vingegaard's disadvantage when compared to the likes of Pogacar, Van der Poel and Evenepoel, is the fact that the Dane has more of a life away from the bike, with his priorities sometimes being split.

"He’s competing against Pogacar, who seems to have a completely different attitude to life. It can hardly be a coincidence that the wonderkids of the current peloton – Pogacar, Mathieu van der Poel, and Remco Evenepoel – are all childless,” says Clement in conversation with Helden Magazine. “I get the sense that they ride with a greater sense of freedom, they find it easier to throw themselves into a race, and they seem able to focus entirely on cycling in a way that’s just a little more complete.”

This split in focus is used as a criticism of Vingegaard from some fans, with the fact that the Dane's season is based around the Tour de France being compared to the year round exploits of his Maillot Jaune rivals Pogacar and Evenepoel. The attitude of Vingegaard is also a let less carefree, according to Clement's colleague Karsten Kroon.

“Vingegaard has previously admitted he struggles with the pressure he feels. That’s something Pogacar doesn’t seem fazed by in the slightest. He just doesn’t care – he’s smiling before the start, during the race, and afterwards,” Kroon analyses. “I believe Vingegaard could absolutely handle racing more frequently – physically, that is. But mentally? I’m not so sure he could cope with that much more racing.”