PRESS CONFERENCE | Jonas Vingegaard speaks on Simon Yates surprise retirement: “I’ve also been close to burning out, that’s something I’ve spoken with the team about”

Jonas Vingegaard laid out the thinking behind his biggest calendar shake up in years during a January Team Visma | Lease a Bike media session, confirming the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France double has been in his head since the moment he won La Vuelta. CyclingUpToDate were there to document every word!

Rather than framing it as a risk, Vingegaard said the team leaned on their own data and his experience backing up Grand Tours to argue the Giro should not be a disadvantage for his Tour level. He described the move as a fresh source of motivation after five seasons that felt broadly similar.

The Dane also spoke openly about the mental load of modern pro cycling, saying he has been close to burning out himself and that riders have to be willing to tell the team when demands become too much. He said his wife plays a key role in helping him listen to what he needs.

Alongside the Giro Tour focus, Vingegaard insisted he still has other ambitions beyond Grand Tours, addressed the loss of Simon Yates and discussed rivalries with riders like Joao Almeida, while also acknowledging the pressure that comes with Danish expectations and life in the spotlight.

Already when you won the Vuelta, did you know you wanted to do the Giro this year?
Already when I won the Vuelta, I had a big wish of doing the Giro this year. Pretty quickly I started talking with the team about it. I also mentioned it in the press. I think pretty quickly they could also see that I really wanted to do it. They also started looking into the data behind it. Does it do anything for the Tour? Actually we see that the two times that I’ve done the Vuelta after the Tour, I haven’t been worse. I would say even I’ve been a bit better power-wise in the Vuelta. We don’t believe that it’s a disadvantage for me to do it.

So you had to persuade the team to do the Giro?
No, I wouldn’t say so. I had the wish and they were looking into it as well. I feel like they also were thinking, OK, we take this as a good challenge to try to do it. It’s something that both the team and I are really motivated about. It’s some kind of new energy. The last five years I’ve done the same programme, more or less. Of course small changes, but then we changed the programme and it’s something that I’m really motivated by. I feel like my teammates as well, they get really motivated by the thoughts of it. For me personally, I really needed the change as well.

Is the dream to win all three Grand Tours?
It would be the big dream that the first man of this generation is doing. It’s not about being the first man of this generation. I think we all know that Tadej will do it sooner or later, I guess. But it’s not about being the first man, it’s more about being able to actually win all three of them. Obviously I’m 29 now and it’s not like I have 10 years more in my career. I also need to try to do it once I’m at my peak level and I feel like I’m at my peak level now. Now is also the moment for me to do it.

What could you improve in this season compared to the seasons before?
I think just by getting more motivation of doing this programme. So keeping me more motivated this way, it will already change drastically. I’m not saying that I was not motivated the other years, but I just feel like a new energy. I believe that going into the Tour, I will be also more motivated because I’ve done the Giro, I’ve done the race that I would like to do. Then the outcome of course maybe doesn’t matter because I’ve been able to do the race that I wanted to do.

Motivation is one thing, but what else could you do to improve your performances?
Well, I’m not going to tell you guys what I’m going to improve. I have things I want to improve and hopefully it will pay off, but I guess you will see later on. Or we will see.

Would winning the Giro make your Grand Tour career full circle?
The Grand Tour yes, but of course I also have other goals. I still want to win as many one win races as well. That’s also why I wanted to do the UAE Tour, because we were speaking about should I do the UAE. For me personally, doing a World Tour race was the factor because the UAE Tour is a World Tour race and that’s all the races that I really want to win. So I also have other goals than only the Grand Tour.

Last year you were more or less repeating the same programme. What kind of feelings did that give you?
I guess by repeating what you do every year, you just kind of get into the same role and you do the same every year. It’s not like I’m not motivated. It’s not that way, but it’s more like sometimes you also need something new to increase your motivation again. That’s what we do now and I feel in myself that I have new energy that I haven’t had for a few years.

When did you feel that new energy start?
Basically from when I started training again. Even before, because we had the programme, not ready, but we had the Giro and the Tour ready already from the end of October to the start of November. Already there we knew that these are the two main goals. Then of course, how do we build up? That came a little bit later. Already from there I was very motivated for this year.

Did you have a bittersweet feeling after winning the Vuelta because you could not celebrate?
At first, yes. When I had to get in the car, I was very disappointed. I wouldn’t say sad, but very disappointed. Afterwards, the celebration we had there on the parking lot was very nice. It was very special. I think it’s something you will probably not see in cycling again, but it was very special how we united as a team to still do the celebration. For me personally, it was more special than being on a big square.

Would you like to come back to La Vuelta in the future?
Yes, it could be. I wouldn’t say that I never come back. Of course, now I won it and it’s one of the Grand Tours. It depends more in the future on how the programme will look. Of course, it’s a race I would like to come back to.

The team said the big goal for this season is the Tour de France. Is the Giro more important to you?
Of course, the Tour is the biggest race in the world, so that is also the big goal. Of course, I think you can also have both of them pretty equal goals. I also want to win the Giro. I still believe that it’s possible for me to do both.

But you cannot go into the Giro thinking the Tour is the main goal, can you?
Of course, when you go into the Giro, at that moment you cannot think about the Tour, because then you’re not focused on the Giro. So going into the Giro, you have to be focused on the Giro. But of course, afterwards or as soon as possible, you can start thinking about the Tour as well. I’ve done it a few times with the Vuelta, and it worked out pretty well for me.

Did Pogacar doing the Giro and Tour change how you look at it?
I think I was actually already going with the thoughts also at that point, because in 2023, I did the Tour and the Vuelta. And of course, I finished second in the Vuelta, but I could see that I was still on a maybe even better level than I was in the Tour. So also there, it made me already think that it might be possible to do the Giro and the Tour.

Is the Giro Tour double the same challenge as Tour Vuelta, or are there differences?
I mean, of course, it’s hard for me to tell, because I’ve never done the Giro. But of course, you might be unlucky that the Giro is very bad weather for three weeks. I don’t hope it will be, but that might be the circumstances. But on the other hand, after the Giro, you have one more week before the Tour. So there’s five weeks between Giro and Tour, and there’s normally only four between Tour and Vuelta. So yeah, there might be a little bit extra time to play with.

How big is the loss of Simon Yates for the team?
Yeah, of course, it’s a very big loss for us. I’m very unfortunate that we lose him now. He was going to play a really important role in the Tour. But yeah, I also have a lot of respect for his decision, because I think it doesn’t come from nothing. I mean, he lost his motivation, and the sport is also very hard to be in. I think for everyone it’s a very demanding sport, and also for me. I’ve also been close to burning out, but it is tough with all the altitude camps and everything. And I know his programme from last year, so I also understand that it was very hard for him, and that he made this decision. I have a lot of respect for him. When he feels that it’s enough, then he’s going to stop.

You have lost climbing power. How do you look at the transfers and the climbing support for the Tour?
Yeah, I mean, of course, also with losing Cian, it’s also a loss for us. But of course, on the other hand, we get some good climbers in, in my opinion. I know there’s been a lot of writing in the media that we haven’t done well in the transfers. But I think, as I always said on the podium here, I was also not the biggest talent going into. I was not the first in line to get a World Tour contract. I think, actually, the signings they did is pretty good, because, yeah, it’s some of the big talents. I think Davide will be a very good climber, and the same with Louis. I mean, yeah, I think we will have some good climbing power.

Is there a new rivalry with Joao Almeida as you meet again in the Giro?
Yeah, I mean, of course, Joao is also one of the best riders in the world at the moment. So, he’s going to be very strong there in the Giro. I think we will also meet in Catalunya, as I understand it. So, also the preparation for the Giro will be a bit the same. So, obviously, there’s also a rivalry there. And I really enjoy racing against Joao. He’s a very strong and also a very good guy. I really enjoy speaking with him as well.

Almeida said you have the surprise factor and you never fake in your attacks. What stands out about him?
Well, I think that Joao is very strong mentally. He never cracks, basically. Even if I was able to drop him one day, then I’m not going to, how do you say, it’s hard to make the gap really big to him on those days. You need to fight for it, basically. So, yeah, I think that’s the most important, that he’s so strong mentally, and he never gives up.

You said you have been close to burning out. How do you stop yourself from going too far?
Well, I think, of course, it’s very hard in cycling. We speak a lot about burnouts at the moment in cycling, because we push ourselves to the limit with all the altitude camps, with everything. You always need to be ready for a race. It’s not like in the past that you come to a race and you come there to get shaved. No, you come to the race and you want to win it. So, obviously, there’s more pressure on all the riders. I think for me, personally, it’s just about listening to who I am as a person and what do I need. And also, of course, I’ve said it many times, but it’s something my wife really helps me with, to get me to feel what do I need and how do I feel about it.

Is there something about the way the team operates that could cause riders to feel drained, like Simon Yates and Tom Dumoulin?
Well, I mean, I wouldn’t give the team the fault. I mean, it’s also up to us riders to say it as well, to say it out loud to the team. To say, listen, this is too much for me. I can’t handle this. We need to change something. But, yeah, obviously, they are also demanding a lot from us. But, yeah, as I said, of course, it’s hard to say to the team, I can’t do this. But, yeah, I think also, and that’s what Simon does now, he thinks about himself and that’s what he needs to do.

Do you feel like you are able to take your space and ask for changes when you need them?
I think I haven’t always been able to, and that’s probably also why it’s been hard for me. But I think now I’ve also realised that if I keep doing that, I will have a burnout. So, obviously, I needed to also say, OK, maybe we need to do something differently. And, yeah, that’s something I’ve spoken with the team about and we really agreed on, actually.

Is the lighter programme in spring one of the reasons, with only four races?
No, I think the four races is more because I do the Giro Tour. It’s four races, but it’s still 60 race days, so it’s not like it’s nothing. It’s still quite a lot. And that’s more the reason. Two Grand Tours will be very demanding. And also, I do also believe that if I do, let’s say I would do four races before the Giro, then already by the time I would be at the Tour, I would be on my knees. And then that wouldn’t make sense. That’s also why doing the Giro and the Tour, you need to have a light programme in the spring.

After the Tour, what thoughts do you have about the rest of the season, and does burnout play into it?
Yeah, of course. But I think for me it’s more about how do I feel after the Tour. So if I feel good, obviously then I’m going to race because it’s a long time from end of July until February, March, whenever you’re going to start racing. So, yeah. We have done some thoughts about it and of course there’s also a World Championships this year that suits me pretty well. So if I’m going to race, that’s probably going to be the race I’m going to choose and try to prepare for.

Would you like to do Worlds for Denmark again if you feel good after the Tour?
Yeah, for sure. I just hope that if I’m completely done after the Tour that people will actually accept it now instead of saying that I have to go to the Worlds. I mean, the times that I’ve said no to the Worlds it’s because of a reason and not because I don’t want to. It’s because I can’t do it. Luckily, last year I showed it in the Europeans that when enough is enough.

Do you think Denmark expects too much from you?
I wouldn’t say they expect too much. I mean, I can only do what I can do and then that’s how it is.

Is Primoz Roglic also a rival for you, and how would you describe him?
Of course, he’s a rival as well. He’s a very strong rider and I think especially him and Remco together will be a very tough duo in the Tour de France. Obviously, it’s some guys we have to see as some of the big favourites as well.

What capacity does Roglic have that stands out?
Actually, I talked about Joao earlier. A bit the same, I would say. He’s also a guy who I feel like he never cracks and he never gives up. That’s also a very strong capacity to have.

How did the discussion at home go about doing the Giro Tour double?
As you mean with my wife? Yeah, it wasn’t a discussion because she was thinking the same. Basically, from the moment I won the Vuelta, I wanted to do the double and she was completely behind the plan of doing that.

Will it be harder on family life across such a long period?
Of course. Both yes and no. Also, normally after the Giro, I can be with her from the Giro until the Tour. So actually, the days away from her is nothing more than what it would be with doing the normal build up.

What do you think about Contador and Nibali, the last to win all three Grand Tours?
I think they’re big champions. When you look at everything they’ve won, it would be a dream for me also to be in the same. Being able to win the three Grand Tours as they have done, it’s an incredible achievement and it’s something that I hope I can do.

Who was your idol when you were a child?
Actually, Contador was my big idol. I really liked watching him, especially the way he was racing. He wasn’t afraid of cracking or attacking and then going down on it. I really enjoyed how he was racing.

A local Danish question: you bought a house next door. Why did you decide to do that?
Actually, I thought I had name and address protection, but I realised I didn’t. It wasn’t supposed to be public, but that’s an investment we do and that’s what we want to do.

Why make that investment?
I think on the seaside of the town I live in, it’s always a good investment.

If you win the Giro, do you think it would shorten your career because you have achieved what you want?
Well, I don’t think it will shorten my career, no. I think anyway I still have the motivation and even if I was able to win the Giro, I would still have a lot of motivation as well.

Is living in the spotlight hard for you, or do you enjoy it?
Of course, I’m maybe not the guy who likes it, but I always say that it’s also not something that bothers me. It’s not a problem at all for me. Of course, if I could choose, I would be a cyclist without being in the spotlight, but that’s not possible with everything that I want. Of course, as I said, it’s really not a problem for me.

Do altitude camps help because you can work in silence and quiet?
Well, I mean, of course, yes and no. I mean, you’re in quiet and silence, but of course you’re also away from home. I enjoy it more when I’m at home with the family.