"Jonas Vingegaard might have the race sewn up after a week" – Danish expert warns: no Pogacar, no GC drama at La Vuelta 2025

As the 2025 Vuelta a Espana prepares to roll out this Saturday, Danish commentator Dennis Ritter is among those looking ahead with a mix of excitement and caution. While the inclusion of Jonas Vingegaard brings the prospect of a historic Danish triumph, the absence of Tadej Pogacar – his great generational rival – casts a long tactical shadow over the race.

“Jonas is such a strong favourite that, if things go the way the script suggests, he might have the race sewn up after just a week,” Ritter analyses in conversation with Ekstra Bladet. “I enjoy it more when there’s a real contest. There are definitely two sides to that coin.”

Vingegaard, fresh off another commanding Tour de France campaign where he was clearly best of the rest behind the world champion, arrives at the Vuelta as the undisputed GC favourite. Without Pogacar – who is skipping the Vuelta after an intense double Giro-Tour programme – the level of true competition at the very top could be significantly thinned.

Ritter, a long-time Tour de France commentator and a well-regarded voice in Danish cycling media, expressed both enthusiasm for Vingegaard’s chances and regret at the missing rivalry. “I’m genuinely disappointed Pogacar won’t be there. He and Jonas push each other to new heights. They elevate cycling in every way, and I love that duel,” Ritter said. “A potential win for Vingegaard would obviously carry more weight if it came by beating Pogacar.”

With both Vingegaard and Mads Pedersen on the start list, Denmark enters the race with two genuine stars, each capable of shaping the narrative in their own way. Ritter points out that having such firepower on display raises the stakes not just for the riders, but also for the fans and the broadcasters.

“Of course, it heightens the anticipation and enjoyment when you’ve got someone to cheer for,” Ritter said. “In my view, Mads and Jonas are equally big stars – they’re both characters the audience really connect with.”

While Pedersen will be targeting stage wins and potentially the points classification, all eyes will be on Vingegaard in the high mountains – and Ritter believes he could dominate the summit finishes. “I’m incredibly excited to see him on all those mountaintop finales – I think he can steamroll the lot of them,” he said. “It’s brilliant that he’s racing.”

Despite concerns over GC predictability, Ritter is quick to remind fans not to underestimate the chaotic charm of the Vuelta. He sees it as the most unpredictable of the three Grand Tours, thanks largely to the unorthodox route design.

“They throw all the rules and traditions out the window and just create a route they think is fun,” he said. “That sometimes makes for a wild race. I like that. It’s a bit more crash-bang-wallop than the Tour, which tends to be more controlled because there’s so much on the line for everyone.”

Though Ritter ranks the Vuelta as the third of the Grand Tours in terms of prestige, he strongly emphasises its entertainment value – and the likelihood that something unexpected could still shape the race. “It can get wild, mad and totally unpredictable. Even without Pogacar, anything can happen.”