Vingegaard Faces Uncertain Challenge at European Road Championships Amidst classics Focus Shift
Jonas Vingegaard enters the European road Championships with a degree of uncertainty,a marked contrast to the dominant form displayed by rivals tadej Pogačar and remco Evenepoel. The Dane,fresh off a grueling season including two Grand Tours,acknowledges his current fitness is a question mark as he prepares to tackle the challenging course in France. This race represents a interesting crossroads in modern cycling, highlighting a strategic divergence among the sport’s top contenders.
The Changing Landscape of Cycling: Grand Tours vs. Classics
Traditionally, Grand Tour specialists like Vingegaard prioritized three-week stage races. However, a notable shift is occurring. Pogačar, in particular, has blossomed into a formidable Classics rider alongside his Grand Tour success, recently securing his fourth Tour de France title and a repeat world championship win. Evenepoel similarly balances both disciplines, demonstrating his versatility with victories in races like De brabantse Pijl.
Vingegaard, conversely, has seemingly moved away from the one-day Classics. He removed them from his calendar, a decision that became apparent after a 2022 season where he won the Drôme Classic but then abandoned Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège before his breakthrough Tour de France victory. His only one-day race appearance as has been a DNF at the 2024 San Sebastian classic.
Assessing Vingegaard’s Form and the Competition
The 2023 season saw Vingegaard prioritize stage racing, culminating in a second-place finish at the Vuelta a España. He’s now arriving at the European Championships after completing both the Tour de France and the Vuelta. This heavy workload leaves his condition an open question.
“Whether there’s a three-way battle doesn’t depend on them, but on me,” Vingegaard stated, referring to Pogačar and Evenepoel. “Because I don’t really no how my fitness is. I’ve ridden two Grand Tours. we’ll see what that brings.”
Both Pogačar and Evenepoel reportedly arrived in Ardèche, the region hosting the championships, directly from Kigali, Rwanda, where Vingegaard observed they “both seemed in really good shape.” This observation underscores the potential challenge he faces.
The Demanding Course: A Climber’s Test
The 203-kilometer route from privas to Guilherand-Granges is undeniably a climber’s course. You can expect a punishing race featuring:
* Côte de saint-Romain-de-Lerps: Three ascents of this 7km climb, the site of Demi Vollering’s winning attack in the women’s race.
* Côte de Val d’Enfer: Four challenging ascents in the closing circuits.
This terrain heavily favors riders with exceptional climbing abilities - precisely the strength of Vingegaard, Pogačar, and Evenepoel. However, vingegaard’s fatigue from his Grand Tour efforts could be a significant factor.
A lighthearted Outlook and Uncertain Prospects
Despite the looming challenge, Vingegaard maintains a pragmatic and even humorous outlook. He playfully referenced a previous sprint victory over Pogačar on stage 11 of the 2024 Tour de France in Le Lioran.
“Evenepoel? As far as I know, I’ve never sprinted against him,” he quipped.
Ultimately, Vingegaard’s performance at the European Championships will hinge on his ability to overcome accumulated fatigue. While his rivals have demonstrated a commitment to both Grand Tours and one-day races,Vingegaard’s recent focus on stage racing leaves his form an intriguing unknown. You can anticipate a compelling contest, but whether it evolves into the anticipated three-way battle remains to be seen.
