“This isn’t about beating Almeida because he couldn’t beat Pogacar. It’s about winning the Vuelta" - Visma clarify Vingegaard narrative

Despite a closely matched second week at the 2025 Vuelta a Espana, Team Visma | Lease a Bike remain fully confident that Jonas Vingegaard has what it takes to distance João Almeida and win the red jersey in Madrid.

As the race enters its decisive third week, Vingegaard holds a slender 48-second lead over Almeida, who has emerged as his most consistent challenger. But while the gap hasn’t widened as many had expected, Visma sports director Jesper Morkov insists there’s no panic within the Visma camp. “I believe that if Jonas is on one of his very best days, he can drop Almeida,” Morkov told Feltet.dk. “Maybe not by minutes, but we absolutely believe he can ride away from him.”

The head-to-head between Vingegaard and Almeida has intensified in recent days, culminating in a telling performance on the brutal slopes of the Angliru, where Almeida’s high tempo earned him the stage win. It was a reminder that the UAE Team Emirates - XRG leader is not merely a strong time trialist or diesel climber — he’s a complete GC threat, and one in peak condition.

Even so, Morkov maintains that Almeida’s recent form isn’t a shock to those inside the Visma setup. “We’ve known all along that Almeida is exceptionally strong and came into the Vuelta very well prepared,” he said. “He’s a top-class rider and a tough opponent. So no, we’re not surprised. There have just been a couple of stages where he’s hit top form, while Jonas hasn’t quite been at 100%. That’s why they’ve looked so evenly matched.”

With three mountain finishes still to come, Visma know the real test is yet to begin. The time gaps may be small, but so far, neither rider has landed a decisive blow. And while Vingegaard hasn't managed to carve out significant time since his Stage 9 attack, he's also conceded nothing — aside from ten bonus seconds on Stage 11.

Morkov isn’t ruling out the possibility that Almeida could prove stronger on a given day, but he’s adamant that the team’s focus remains the same: to give Vingegaard every opportunity to decide the race on the road.

“It’s not like we’re just assuming Jonas will ride away from him — but we hope he can, and we believe it’s a very real possibility,” he said. “If Almeida is the better rider on a given day and drops Jonas, then there’s not much we can do. Cycling is simple like that sometimes. But we’ll do everything we can to set Jonas up for success.”

While fans and commentators may be framing the Vuelta as a direct duel between Vingegaard and Almeida, Morkov downplays any sense of personal rivalry. For Vingegaard, the motivation is not about settling scores — it’s about claiming a Grand Tour that has eluded him so far. “Jonas has great respect for Almeida. He’s one of the best riders in the world — people tend to forget that,” said Morkov. “This isn’t about beating Almeida because he couldn’t beat Pogacar. It’s about winning the Vuelta. That’s the only goal.”

Vingegaard, a two-time Tour de France champion, hasn’t stood atop a Grand Tour podium since his second triumph in Paris. “He’s been focused on this from the very start of the season,” Morkov added. “He’s hugely motivated to win a Grand Tour again. It doesn’t matter that it’s Almeida he’s up against — it’s the red jersey he’s chasing.”