“My form is better than at this time last year” - Jonas Vingegaard sends warning before Volta a Catalunya

Jonas Vingegaard heads to the Volta a Catalunya on the back of his recent Paris–Nice victory, a performance that has boosted his confidence at the start of the season. The Dane sees clear progress compared to last year and is satisfied with his current condition.

“It’s true that overall my shape is better than last year at this point, so I think everything is in place and yes, I feel a bit better,” he told AS. Fresh off a win at Paris-Nice, where he not only climbed well but also thrived in the very difficult weather conditions.

Team Visma | Lease a Bike’s leader believes that progression is key for a demanding schedule, where he aims to maintain the level shown in France. Cautious but ambitious, he is targeting similar sensations in Catalunya, where the route suits him much better. “I hope I can have a week like the last one at Paris–Nice and then we’ll see. It’s been a short turnaround, but I hope to be ready for this race as well.”

The Dane does not hide that competition will be fierce this year, with several big names on the start list. Among them, riders like João Almeida, Remco Evenepoel, Florian Lipowitz, Tom Pidcock and Lenny Martinez.

“There are many good riders, obviously. Almeida is here, the Red Bull guys are here, I think even Lenny Martinez came. I’m probably forgetting someone, but it’s a very hard course this week.”

Beyond his rivals, Vingegaard reflects on a recent spell marked by crashes that have tested his mental resilience. The two-time Tour de France winner explains how he handled those tough moments without turning to specialist help. “Sometimes you crash and that’s part of cycling, so from there you have to try to get back to racing, focus on training again, and target the next competition.”

Through that, he highlights the crucial role of his inner circle: “No, I think the person who has helped me most is my wife over these years and basically with everything, from the start of my career. I’m always a bit nervous in races and she’s always my great support.”

Looking at his medium-term goals, the Dane keeps the focus on his own performance, without being distracted by whether major rivals like Tadej Pogacar are present or not. “No, I only think about myself, I don’t think about whether he’s there or not, I just think about the races I want to do and I go there to try to win them.”

That mindset also frames his assessment of his current career phase: “I think it’s hard to say if you’re in the best years of your career. I think you only know when performance starts to drop, but right now I feel I’m improving. I don’t know if this is my highest level, that’s something you never know, but I feel I’m still improving my level overall.”

In terms of planning, Vingegaard is approaching a different season, with a debut at the Giro d’Italia as one of his main targets. The Dane says the decision follows a progressive strategy and a long-held personal ambition. “It’s about keeping a slow progression before doing the Giro and the Tour, getting through it so it doesn’t feel too long.” He openly admits his desire to conquer the Italian Grand Tour: “I’ve had winning the Giro in mind for years.”

The demands of the calendar and the strength of today’s peloton do not change his competitive approach. Vingegaard knows the overall level keeps rising, driven in part by high-calibre rivalries. “Of course, having a rival like Pogacar makes everyone work even harder, and forces everyone to raise their game if they want to win, so we also try to be better every day.”

With that mindset, the Dane tackles a wide-open, demanding Volta a Catalunya, without a single standout favourite in his view. “I wouldn’t say there’s one in particular. Red Bull has Lipowitz and Remco; UAE also has Almeida; and Lenny Martinez is strong too, so I wouldn’t say there’s one main rival.” It’s an ideal setting to gauge his form before the major goals that will define his season.