+1
02:49
+3
19-07-2026 19:24
19-07-2026 19:21
16-04-2025 05:41
+8
16-04-2025 05:36
+0
16-04-2025 05:33
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+1
JBlake
If you put together several interviews, the clues are there to suggest it. He's spoken about quitting professional cycling over the winter (yes, he said he was enjoying it again after a change in program). He's spoken about "completing" cycling after winning the Giro and not being sure what else he has to do/prove. I think several stages of this Tour made him realize defeating Tadej is unlikely. That near-death crash a few years ago is still there... a bad crash is bound to bring up some memories. Jonas has said time and time again that his family is #1 and how much he dislikes being away from them for cycling/training. He's also been doubling down on his post-cycling career with a rather substancial real estate portfolio in Denmark. Sure, he has a contract and a good salary to go with it - but that's more time away from his family while he could easily live comfortably if he retired tomorrow. I hope I'm wrong; I'd love to see him chase more races .. just saying it's a possibility.02:49
+3
JBlake
As a Jonas fan, it was one of the first things I thought to myself when I saw him in pain... Is this the last time we see him in the peloton? Too many comments recently about post-cycling, and I think he knows he'll never be able to defeat Tadej again.19-07-2026 19:24
+3
JBlake
While Jonas was unlikely to defeat Tadej for the Yellow Jersey - suggesting he would be "lucky" to finish on the podium is just as delusional.19-07-2026 19:21
+1
JBlake
If we're playing the "what if" game - I'd go further back to Mads getting a puncture and possibly being a favourite to win the race. He would have likely beat Tadej and MVDP in a sprint at the Velodrome. He appeared to be one of the stronger riders who faced some bad luck. But, that's just cycling. Wout could have very well won Paris-Roubaix in 2023 if he hadn't punctured in the last 10km. I wish Tadej hadn't crashed or would've caught up so all these stories of how Tadej should have won wouldn't exist, I think MVDP was the stronger rider in this particular race.16-04-2025 05:41
+8
JBlake
There might be some truth to Visma's psychology being hurt by last year's crashes. But, definitely - Itzulia was a boycott because of the Organizer's and comments made by them this year again proves it is necessary. The crash profoundly changed the course of the season for several of the top riders, yet they got blamed for not being careful, going too fast, or. not knowing the roads enough.16-04-2025 05:36
+0
JBlake
Someone else may be able to give better local context, but I don't think these type of incidents only happen to MVDP - although, it does seem to happen more often to him. Eli Iserbyt had beer thrown at him earlier this year, or Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard had chips thrown in their face during last year's Tour de France. The common theme is alcohol between most incidents, combined with being outdoors for a prolonged period of time. MVDP is also not very well-liked by many Belgian fans for his success, particularly against a rider like Wout. It's likely a combination of today's society, alcohol, some dislike towards the rider, and just being stupid. Hopefully real consequences might dissuade others from doing similar things.16-04-2025 05:33