“Jonas is not yet at full strength” - Mads Pedersen issues warning over Jonas Vingegaard ahead of Tour de France

Jonas Vingegaard is crushing the high mountains at the Giro d’Italia, but he missed the top 10 in the flat time trial. That sparked plenty of claims that he would have no chance against Tadej Pogacar at the next Tour de France, but the Team Visma | Lease a Bike rider has had his backers.

One of those to speak up publicly was Mads Pedersen, who urged calm on the Lang Distance podcast before drawing firm conclusions about his compatriot’s current level and where he'll be come July's Tour. The Danish rider stressed the context of that stage and underlined the profile as completely favourable to pure specialists in comments reported by Wielerrevue.

“If Filippo Ganna can’t beat Jonas Vingegaard in a time trial of more than forty kilometres with four metres of negative elevation, then something’s wrong,” said Pedersen, making clear the course clearly suited the Italian.

The Danish former world champion insisted that Vingegaard’s performances should be judged above all in the mountains, terrain where he has already shown very positive signs during this Giro. The clearest evidence came on the demanding stage finishing in Pila, where the two-time Tour winner attacked decisively to take the victory and pull on the pink jersey.

For Pedersen, that display confirmed that Vingegaard’s progression remains on track and that he still has room to grow with the season’s biggest targets ahead. “Jonas is still not in peak shape. He’s not in the form he has when he gets to the Tour,” the Dane explained.

The Lidl-Trek rider also highlighted that a Grand Tour contender’s build-up requires a gradual progression to full fitness and that the true performance peak is still to come.

“He still has to take one more step, but I also think he will. Everything will be fine,” concluded Pedersen, convinced his compatriot will return to his best with the Tour de France in mind.