“Jonas asked on the radio: 'can someone launch me?'" - Matteo Jorgenson gives unique insight into Vingegaard's 'spur of the moment' attack at La Vuelta

The dynamics of stage 9 at the 2025 Vuelta a Espana unfolded with a blend of tactical chess and raw power, culminating in a signature Jonas Vingegaard attack perfectly timed and executed with the help of teammate Matteo Jorgenson. Behind the scenes, an impromptu call on the radio and relentless team effort set the stage for a defining moment in the race.

When Jonas Vingegaard radioed his team with a simple, urgent request — “Can somebody launch me?” — it triggered a rapid response from Team Visma | Lease a Bike’s Matteo Jorgenson. “It was completely spur of the moment,” Jorgenson told reporters after the stage. “Jonas asked on the radio, can someone launch me? I said — right now? He said — right now, so I started sprinting, and sent the guy on his way.”

This unplanned acceleration was the catalyst that ignited the race-winning move on the steep final climb, proving once again the value of intuition and instant communication within a well-drilled team.

Visma’s sports director Grischa Niermann revealed that the team’s original plan had been conservative. “We wanted to be defensive,” Niermann explained to Eurosport afterwards. “There was a big chance for a breakaway, and a big fight for it ended with a small group getting away.” Yet, as the race evolved, the initiative shifted — teams like Lidl-Trek and Q36.5 took charge at the front, each eager for a stage win, forcing Visma to adapt.

“The climb wasn’t one where Jonas could make a difference later on, so he told the guys to speed up early,” Niermann added. “That was Jonas’ initiative because he felt good. He has the freedom to do that, especially when a stage win is at stake. It was a very good move.”

The Dane’s attack was not without its surprises. “Maybe I didn’t do my homework well enough,” Vingegaard smiled when speaking to the media himself post-stage. “I thought I was closer to the finish when I attacked, then I was surprised to see the 10-kilometre-to-go banner. I had a gap and I had to keep going.”

Jorgenson’s role as the ‘launchpad’ for Vingegaard’s effort highlights the depth of Visma’s roster and the fluidity of their tactics — where split-second decisions can reshape the race narrative. “It’s been a great day,” Jorgenson reflected. “We can go into the rest day feeling very positive.”

Niermann added a sober perspective, mindful that La Vuelta’s toughest stages lie ahead. “It’s a really nice confidence boost to win today,” he said. “But the hardest days are still to come and the Vuelta is far from over. We are in a good place.”