Twice Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard has announced he will not compete in next month’s World Championships, opting instead to focus on the European Championships.
Idman.biz, citing Reuters, reports that the 28-year-old Dane, riding for Visma–Lease a Bike, cited scheduling and recovery concerns as reasons for the decision. Vingegaard, who finished second to Tadej Pogacar in the last two Tours, will next race at the Vuelta a España, where he is considered a favorite after Pogacar decided to skip the event.
“No, actually, yeah, we decided not to go to the Worlds. It doesn’t really fit into the plans,” Vingegaard told reporters at his Vuelta press conference. He explained that the World Championships demand peak freshness and intensive effort, and with uncertainty over his recovery after the 21-stage Vuelta, it made sense to focus on the European Championships instead.
The Vuelta a España runs from August 23 to September 14, while the World Championships are scheduled for September 21-28 in Kigali, Rwanda—the first time the event is held in Africa. The European Championships will follow in France from October 1-5. By prioritizing the Europeans, Vingegaard aims to ensure he competes at his best after the Vuelta.
Idman.biz
