OPINION | The main conclusion of an historical Milano-Sanremo - Cycling needs Jonas Vingegaard
CyclingMonday, 24 March 2025 at 08:51
Milano - Sanremo 2025 has entered the cycling history books by the front door. Mathieu van der Poel, Tadej Pogacar and Filippo Ganna left a memorable battle that began in Cipressa, intensified on the Poggio, and capitulated in an unforgettable sprint at Via Roma.
Even with the hangover from the race, there is one big main conclusion that trumps them all when it comes to the health of the sport as a competition: Cycling needs Jonas Vingegaard.
The final 30 kilometers of Milano - Sanremo will be remembered for a lifetime. It all started with Tadej Pogacar's attack on Cipressa, which only his two rivals could follow. As a result, he broke the all-time record on the climb, going under 9 minutes and finishing in 8:55.
Pogacar had practically the perfect race to win. The Slovenian was coming off a few months in which he has been completely unbeatable. When he attacked, no one was able to get by him. Rivals were beginning to feel that the UAE star had become an invincible rider. Until Van der Poel proved again that, despite everything, he is still human.
What does this have to do with Vingegaard? It is very spectacular to see Tadej Pogacar win races with such ease. But none of the ones he's taken, not even the 2024 World Championships with an attack with 100 kilometers to go, is as nice as one where you find the rivalry he's had in this Milan-San Remo.
Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel arrived at the Poggio face to face. On the climb, the Slovenian attacked more than 5 times, trying to go solo because he knew he had little chance in the sprint. But not a single move hurt the Dutchman. In fact, the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider said after his victory that he knew he had the win in the bag as soon as they crested the climb.
That's why, for fans, the best thing that could happen is that Jonas Vingegaard returns to his best. Battles like the 2022 and 2023 Tour de France are much more beneficial to cycling than the 2024 edition, where Pogacar won outright with 6 stage wins under his belt in addition.
Cycling, like any sport, thrives on the best rivalries. Vingegaard's 2025 has not started particularly well. He won the Volta ao Algarve on the last day and suffered badly throughout the race. Then, in Paris-Nice, he was beaten by João Almeida in the first summit finish. He also abandoned the race due to a crash when he was leading the general classification and will not be racing the Volta a Catalunya either as a result.
The Dane's next race (confirmed, he hasn't necessarily finished his spring schedule, ed.) will already be the Criterium du Dauphiné, where Tadej Pogacar will also ride this year. The mythical preparation race for the Tour de France will feel more crucial than ever this 2025.
All the fans hope and need Vingegaard to be able to match Pogacar as well as Mathieu van der Poel has been in this Milano - Sanremo. In addition, it is worth remembering that they will also face each other in the Vuelta a España, barring any surprises, and in the World Championships. So, if all goes well, in 2025 alone there will be 4 new chapters of the rivalry between the two superstars.
Original: Jorge Borreguero
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- My personal opinion is that UAE has a proprietary cocktail that isn't on the market and will probably never be on the market. It's happened before in sport. Look at BALCO and THG with the baseball situation. UAE could very well have their OWN scientists and chemists making a proprietary cocktail just for them. They have what I call "fk you money" which means UNLIMITED money. It's not out of the range of real possibilities. I've seen a few of your comments and decided to look and see what you've said in other articles. That led me to a few of your comments and I felt it would be ok to speak my opinion. Obviously my opinion doesn't go over very well with most but I've also seen people say "you are everything wrong with the sport" to you😂 and I thought maybe I can talk with this guy. You may not agree with me which is fine but the conversation needs to happen Cheers 🤘🏻🇬🇧
kaos03-05-2025 - I actually agree. Jonas and Visma put off altitude camp untill May I believe to help him closer to the TDF. I do also believe we will see Jonas retire suddenly and soon 🤘🏻🇬🇧kaos03-05-2025
- This is what I've been saying but nobody is wanting to listen. I don't know if I'm right but I'd like to see the spring classics season affect Pogi at the TDF 🤘🏻🇬🇧kaos03-05-2025
- I can't believe how naive some people are. You must be new to this sport. The history of doping is so entrenched in this sport. It's a very real thing and it didn't stop with Lance. You're absolutely crazy if you think this sport is "clean" 🤘🏻🇬🇧kaos03-05-2025
- I agree mate. I've watched this sport for over 40 years and something is going on within Team UAE and its not above board. Yes they test but when has testing ever caught these massive doping programs so to say "he tests clean" is a farce. We know the testing system is a joke. The bio passport was introduced to help catch doping jut it had the opposite effect. It HELPS these dopers stay within the limits. We will probably never get "proof" about Pogi and UAE as a whole but it's clear something is going on. The entire peleton has access to the same nutrition, technology, science etc etc but when you see pogi I. THE SADDLE going up a 24% gradient, nose breathing, like he was shot from a rocket while all the other top level riders are struggling to even stop from tipping over, there's something not right. All we can hope for is for someone to come forward after their career has come to an end that was at UAE during this time. I believe we are seeing a new substance within the sport. It could very well be a proprietary cocktail made just for UAE that isn't on the market and will never be on the market so it will remain undetectable. It has happened in sport before. Look at THG made by BALCO used by baseball players. That was a proprietary cocktail that never hit the market. With all the UNLIMITED money UAE has I believe they have their own scientists making them a "special brew" that we MAY NEVER see or know about but the best chance we have of this coming out is a disgruntled ex staff member or ex rider from UAE and it may not come out for 10 or 15 years but I believe we WILL find out in years to come 🤘🏻🇬🇧kaos03-05-2025
- Not sure why this article popped a year after it was published. I've been saying this all of last season and all of 2025 season. Pogi has gotten arrogant. Last year was bad and this year he races with rainbow jersey so it may even be worse. I like to see that he's not had the success he wanted for 2025 tho. I was hoping that would bring him down a peg or two. One thing is certain for me tho and that's the fact that Pogi has now reached a level of arrogance and he plays nice to the cameras to make his "new" fans think he's awesome but those of us that have watched the sport for decades see right thru his act. He's fun to watch race but I've lost all interest in him after 2024 season.kaos03-05-2025
- I've not even looked at the start list for the Giro yet but I'll be watching every minute. I don't usually go for the favourite. I find it too easy to go for the favourite but I'll usually pick 2. One I THINK will win and one I would LIKE to win. I certainly don't want Ayuso to win. The lad is arrogant and he's a problem child for UAE. I'm not a big fan of UAE anyway. I feel something isn't right within their camp. One thing is for sure tho, GT's have plenty of excitement and usually some surprises and that's the fun of it all. Probably the best part of cycling is seeing new talent make a name for themselves and win stages. That's what the sport is all about for me. Lads I've never heard of that leave their mark in the sport 🤘🏻🇬🇧kaos03-05-2025
- Can't see Remco making an impact at the Tour. Maybe next year if he stops riding very near parked vehicles on narrow roads at speed.Renz03-05-2025
- Utter stupidity. HE the the premier rider for them. Why is he pacing someone else who has not even proven themselves. That too in the light of the TT to come. 5 mil for domestique . One wont see these antics from Pogi or Jonas unless they are completely out.abstractengineer03-05-2025
- It's irrelevant whether the riders will oppose safety measures or not. The UCI have demonstrated time and again that they don't care what the riders think. The UCI will implement whatever they want (which based on recent history, has nothing related to rider safety anyway). Also, it's not like the riders have a vote anyway, so it's a hilarious and irrelevant point that you are making.Pogboom03-05-2025
You know, all his critics would be the first to complain about the Tour if he retired.
Imagining reactions if he and Wout would announce at the same time. When you read some people it seems that’s what they’re hoping.
The main conclusion of this MSR surely is that Jonas is irrelevant.
It’s still crazy that it takes both van der Poel and Vingegaard to be rivals to Pogacar.
that indicates the incredibly versatility of Tadej.
Others beat him too
let's vingo alone... he does his job and period. Cycling is not a passion for him, it's only his job. I understood that clearly then I don't hope nothing more from him. And don't worry, if the boss tell him: "your salary is for win Tour de France", for sure he will do his best and will return to his best. Don't worry. But don't ask worldchampioship or other exotic things...
I think cycling at this level must be a passion for whoever attempts it, I think Jonas is passionate about the sport, I think that bad crash from last year has made him a bit gun shy, but he'll recover from it. He wants to keep winning I'm sure.
IMHO, no. His calendar is conceptually the same, his attitude is the same, pre and post crash. About the passion, I understand you, but we have different perceptions.
My understanding is that Jonas mostly races for his wife, and she has said she would like him to hold all three grand tour titles in one year, a big goal.
Any source for that? Have never seen any quotes from her.
It was reporred in Canadian Cycling Magazine, around the time thar Jonas rode the Vuelta after winning the Tour so decisively in 2023. He came close to doing the Tour-Vuelta double that year, but Kuss was then given sole leadership at Visma. He has had back luck since, but it may well be a long-term goal if his.
Well, I think THAT would have made the rounds a bit more if she’d actually said it so maybe there was a misunderstanding when there was of Jonas helping the team achieve the 3 in one year?
14 August 2023 Canadian Cycling Magazine.
Thanks, I will go look for it
Maybe JV should try some one day classics instead of hiding at altitude and behind his family obligations! Show you're more than a GT rider. Otherwise you're just Chris Froome v2.0 !
What’s wrong with that, why does everyone have to be the way you want or even interesting? Imagine you needed time to follow EVERYONE.
Those races probably don't appeal to his abilities. If he's going to win another Tour he needs to focus on what works for him.
You mean Liege or Amstel or Flech doesn't play to his abilities ? That's a cop out !
Liege or Amstel are a little different. Only he knows what really works for him. I'm a bit disappointed that he is not going to focus on any other races potentially until the Dauphine. If you don't have race days in the legs no matter how good you are it generally gives a negative result.
I had argued that he knew what works for him the other day but he seems to have maybe a mental block or is still a bit gun shy from last year's crash, which to be honest, was pretty bad. He might be in his last season or two. I hope not because he can still do quite a bit of winning if he gets his head right.
No, he just realises he’s not a one-day racer so why should he force himself?
awp, the way and races he races, he probably doesn’t feel like he needs that many or specific race days before the Tour. His program isn’t very different from other years.
We'll see what happens this year, hopefully he finds himself a little stronger.
Weird title, we have him, is there a rumour he’s leaving or getting thrown out?
Almost makes it sound like he’s just a prop for the Pogačar show