“Vingegaard showed no signs of weakness” – But expert confused by Jonas Vingegaard’s Vuelta approach

Jonas Vingegaard’s Vuelta a España has been, by his lofty standards, a quiet one so far. He has worn the red jersey, he has already claimed a stage, but he has yet to truly attack hard and distance his rivals. As the overwhelming favourite for the overall title, expectations are high, yet he has chosen a more restrained approach through the opening week. With the biggest climbs still ahead in weeks two and three, many believe the Dane is simply biding his time.

Emil Axelgaard, speaking to TV 2, was puzzled by the way Vingegaard has managed himself. “Vingegaard showed no signs of weakness at all, but he didn't do the opposite either. It surprises me that he's driving so defensively, because it's not like him at all. Combined with Thursday's driving, he doesn't seem to be a man who is at 100 percent.”

Axelgaard, however, pointed out that the upcoming stages may explain the tactics. “Considering that the most difficult stages await, and that he also has to be careful not to let fatigue overtake him, his defensive tactics are understandable. His favorite status is unchallenged, but his driving suggests that he is still looking for his best.”

Christian Moberg added another layer to the debate, highlighting how little is known about Vingegaard’s current condition. “We don't know how Jonas is feeling either. It could be that they know something we don't – that there's a reason why he's driving more defensively.”

That uncertainty has created anticipation among both rivals and spectators. “It must be exciting for many riders in the peloton to see how Visma approaches the Vuelta. There are so many days when a breakaway can hold if Visma continues this ride,” Emil Vinjebo noted. With Visma not yet taking a stranglehold on the race, other teams and opportunists may sense their chance.

At the same time, Vinjebo believes Vingegaard’s strength is still unmatched, “When you look at Vingegaard today in relation to some of the other riders, I think he is completely ahead. If he wanted to, I think he could have moved and made a big gap today.” In other words, the champion may simply be choosing control over spectacle, conserving energy until the decisive moments.

Moberg, too, retains faith in the two time Tour de France winner. “We have to remember that the Vuelta is three weeks long. I'm still quite confident. I think he looks really good, although it's hard to assess how they're really feeling. I think Visma really trusts Jonas a lot in the second and third weeks.”