"I’ve closed the gap to Tadej Pogacar" - Vuelta win renews Jonas Vingegaard's confidence ahead of upcoming European Championships
Cycling
Jonas Vingegaard believes his victory at the 2025 Vuelta a Espana has brought him closer than ever to long-time rival Tadej Pogacar – and renewed his belief that he can take the fight to the Slovenian in the years ahead.
The Dane claimed his first Grand Tour triumph since the crash that derailed his spring campaign at the Tour of the Basque Country in 2024. After three gruelling weeks in Spain, he stood atop the podium in Madrid on Sunday, his third career Grand Tour title following Tour de France victories in 2022 and 2023.
Closing the gap to Pogacar
Speaking to Feltet.dk, Vingegaard admitted that while the past two Tours de France have both ended in defeat to Pogacar, this season has shown him that the balance is shifting.
“I think this Vuelta gives me hope and belief that I can challenge him even more next year,” Vingegaard said. “Even at the Tour de France, although it was a clear defeat, I still took confidence from it. I had some bad days in the Tour, which I still find difficult to explain. But when I was on my best days, he couldn’t ride away from me. That makes me feel like I’ve closed the gap compared to last year.”
A demanding Vuelta
The 28-year-old also endured difficult moments in Spain, but unlike in July, this time there was a clear reason: illness. Once recovered, Vingegaard showed the level that carried him to back-to-back Tour titles. “In this Vuelta, when I was really at my level, I felt I had a very, very high level,” he reflected.
His performance on the Bola del Mundo climb in the final weekend, where he surged to a decisive stage victory, underlined his return to peak condition after a disrupted season.
Eyes on the European Championships
Vingegaard’s immediate focus now turns to recovery before the European Championships in France on 5 October – his last major target of 2025. He will line up as one of Denmark’s key riders, while compatriot Mads Pedersen is set to contest both the time trial and the road race.
For Vingegaard, however, the Vuelta has already delivered something just as valuable as a trophy: belief. “I feel I’ve shown I’m back at the level I want to be,” he said. “That gives me confidence for what’s to come.”
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.
claps 7visitors 3
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- 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
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- 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
Loading
13 Comments