After chasing overall victory at the Vuelta a España, Jonas Vingegaard will not head to the World Championships in Rwanda, instead opting for the challenging European Championships road race in France on October 5 as his season closer.
Vingegaard confirmed the news, speaking during his pre-Vuelta press conference on Thursday, as he prepares to start in Turin on August 23 as the heavy favourite to take home the red jersey.
He had originally been seen as one of the very few riders capable of preventing rival Tadej Pogačar from winning back-to-back rainbow jerseys, but with the uncertainty of racing two Grand Tours in one season, he has decided to start the later continental championships.
“We have decided, though, that we want to go for the Europeans instead. Of course, you need to be really fresh and everything to go to the World Championships this year – it really requires a lot from the rider who’s participating.
The European Championships are adding stars by the day, with the punchy course in France’s Drôme department also set to feature Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel, and the road race looks set to be Vingegaard’s final race for the season.
He confirmed that he would not be doing the time trial, nor challenging Pogačar at Il Lombardia, meaning they will have only raced each other at the Dauphiné, Tour, and Europeans once the calendar is up.
Pogačar isn’t racing the Vuelta as was originally planned, instead focusing on conquering Kigali and defending his crowns at the GP Montréal and Il Lombardia. Vingegaard also said that while his absence in Spain could be a benefit, beating him would make it all the more sweet.
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