"Jonas Vingegaard was trying to hide, as usual" - Philippe Gilbert blasts Visma leader after Paris-Nice
Cycling
Jonas Vingegaard's trip to Paris-Nice in 2025 didn't go totally to plan. Despite showing some attacking intent on stage 4, he was eventually beaten at the line by Joao Almeida, before a crash on stage 5 then ended his race altogether. The showing of the Dane has now been heavily criticised by Belgian classics legend Philippe Gilbert.
In particular, Vingegaard's lack of action amidst the controversial neutralisation of the race on stage 4 amidst snow, hail and ice cold rain caught the attention of Gilbert. "Vingegaard was trying to hide, as usual, behind other people," blasts the Belgian icon in quotes to RTL. "And that's when he should have told ASO that we need to make quick, on-the-spot decisions in the interest of everyone, the teams, the organizers. And he was completely absent. He may have been injured, but these are times when we need the leaders of cycling. And he was absent once again."
"This is what shows his great lack of charisma. This is what often plays tricks on him, even in the final stages of races, he has no charisma," continues Gilbert, comparing the reaction, or lack of it from Vingegaard at Paris-Nice, as opposed to the action taken by the Dane's great rival Tadej Pogacar amidst the cancellation of Tre Valli Varesine due to adverse weather. "He (Vingegaard ed.) can't exert influence against, for example, a Pogacar who is doubly charismatic. He's overflowing with it."
After the stage had finished however, Vingegaard did indeed criticise the conditions in his post-stage interview. “I have mixed feelings, although… I’m just not happy at all. We should never have ridden this finale. It was freezing and no one in the peloton felt any warmth. After the restart, I didn’t get warm anymore and even now I still feel hypothermic," the Danish rider told the media.
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João Almeida🇵🇹 🇵🇹 🇵🇹 ENORME apanha Vingegaard e ganha a etapa 4 do Paris-Nice! pic.twitter.com/2greV60LR9
— Eurosport Portugal (@EurosportTV_Por) March 12, 2025
You really can't blame someone for being an introvert, just like you can't praise someone for being an extrovert. These are personality traits and these guys are racers, not personality contestants. I wish I was an extrovert, but I'm just not....
And whatever you are it will always annoy some, but they are usually louder coz it’s far easier to criticise someone you don’t like than to change something about yourself others don’t like.
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- Impressive and surprising, well done. Go for it more often please.Mistermaumau10-04-2025
- Good choice of profile picture by the way :-)Mistermaumau10-04-2025
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- Someone like David Walsh, who was the point person in the Sky Team coverup? When there was money and fame in bringing down Armstrong, he went for that. Then he sold that crusader image to Sky. And then renounced them. The guy has made more money from athletes and doping without ever once competing himself, having to take drugs, or even stand for a single principle. He is no different than Novitzsky, who was pivotal in the Armstrong investigations, and helped put Marion Jones in jail. Now he is full-time in the coverup business for the UFC.
Barney10-04-2025 - Do you think that making results provisional for 10 years makes for good sport? Or in any way remotely fairer, or safer?Barney10-04-2025
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