Jonas Vingegaard on first win of the season: "Things could still be better, but today gives me confidence"

Jonas Vingegaard took a surprise win last season at the UAE Tour and this year has showed off his winning ways early on in February once again, as he fueled the winning move today at the Drôme Classic and then made it stick all the way to the end for a quality win.

“That’s a relief after yesterday, which wasn’t my best day, but today I felt good. There are no high mountains in this area, but it goes up and down all day which makes it tough. I enjoy myself in these races. Things could still be better, but today gives me confidence. It is always important to have a good start to the season. I’m happy with the way I won today," Vingegaard said after the finish after taking an impressive win Étoile-sur-Rhône.

Jumbo-Visma has had many of it's leaders and core riders delay their start of the season until this weekend, as they have been in Tenerife for altitude training. Despite the traditional calls that only a week after will any benefit start to be felt, the Dutch squad has gathered two high-level wins over the weekend, with Wout van Aert winning Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in style.

Over in France, Vingegaard had the company of the likes of Primoz Roglic, Sepp Kuss and Steven Kruijswijk which put the team in a favourite spot for both races. Today at the Drôme Classic Vingegaard stimulated the winning move with 39 kilometers to go and then responded to the decisive attack by Juan Ayuso in the following climb. As the Spanish cracked under the pace of Vingegaard on the hilltop finish, last year's Tour de France runner-up soloed into glory early on, like last year.

The Dane will have the Tour de France as the main goal of his season again this year, but the summer still looms far. Tirreno-Adriatico and Itzulia Basque Country are set to be his main goals for the spring, with the Ardennes classics also on schedule, Vingegaard is surely going to have opportunities to gather more and better wins with the form he's showing.