“Jonas is not yet at full strength” - Mads Pedersen issues warning over Jonas Vingegaard ahead of Tour de France
Cycling
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.
Jonas Vingegaard, leader of the Giro d’Italia
Pedersen backs Vingegaard
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.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- exactly, he had an amazing season, but with these overstatements they don‘t do him good.Ketterechts08-11-2026
- More to the point, it isn't his remaining goal.Renz08-11-2026
- lol yeahmij08-11-2026
- I know, their headlines can be so misleading. Pidcock had a great season with 5 wins. and some solid 2nds. no reason to take away from that with a fake headline.mij08-11-2026
- You can clearly see the the posture change from slightly sitting to again out of the saddle while changing of gears in the video of the sprintabstractengineer08-11-2026
- He has already beaten Pogi twice in the TDF. the achievement is over. He cannot beat Pogi now and he only has a few years left at the top. Win Giro and compete in the TDF, maximise palmares.abstractengineer08-11-2026
- Just looked again at the photo. Yeah I stand by that. If MS had fallen over in Brands direction I don’t even think she would have hit her. You must be a UCI race commissioner. I’ll be sure to check my sock height should I ever see you on a ride. Looks like everyone else on here sees what I see.mij08-11-2026
- I said looking at the photo it doesn’t appear she deviated. Chill out, not stating my word is the final judgement. Just commenting that based on the photo I don’t see it. And BTW the Dutch coach even said she didn’t impede her.mij08-11-2026
- Blah Blah Blah !frieders308-11-2026
- MS said she was changing gears so that caused her slight deviation. Nothing was intentional.frieders308-11-2026
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