Jonas Vingegaard, fresh off his second-place finish in the 2024 Tour de France, is set to return to racing this week at the Clásica San Sebastián on Saturday, followed by the Tour de Pologne beginning on Monday. The Danish rider, who took a well-deserved break following his gruelling Tour campaign, expressed his readiness for these two events, which hold a special place in his career.
“I was very tired after the Tour. For five days, I did absolutely nothing. I recharged my batteries and then started training again. Everything went well. I currently feel fresh and am ready to take on the next two races,” Vingegaard said, reflecting on his recovery period.
The Clásica San Sebastián will mark Vingegaard’s first appearance in the Basque Country since a serious crash during the Itzulia Basque Country race in April. He acknowledged the significance of returning to the region after the accident. “It will be special to return to the Basque Country after everything that happened a few months ago. Fortunately, I also have many good memories of that region, so I am really looking forward to racing there again.”
The Clásica, known for its challenging climbs, is expected to be decided by a trio of tough ascents in the final kilometres, including the notorious Jaizkibel and the newly added, steep Pilotegi climb. Vingegaard’s only previous appearance in the race was in 2021, where he finished in eighth place.
Following the Clásica San Sebastián, Vingegaard will head to Poland, a race where he feels he has unfinished business. “The race in San Sebastián and the Tour de Pologne are two beautiful races. Moreover, I have a special bond with Poland. It was where I achieved my first victory in the WorldTour,” Vingegaard remarked.
Reflecting on his past experiences in Poland, the Dane recalled his victory in the queen stage in 2019, though he missed out on the overall win. “It feels like I still have something to prove there. In 2019, I won the hardest stage, and I then started the next day in the leader’s jersey, but I couldn’t secure the overall victory. I am determined to win this year, but of course, the competition is not to be underestimated.”
Maarten Wynants, the team’s sports director, also shared his thoughts on Vingegaard’s return to Poland. “He has unfinished business there,” Wynants stated, adding that the team’s primary focus would be on the general classification. However, Wynants also highlighted the team’s ambitions in the sprints, with Dutch rider Olav Kooij aiming for stage wins, just as he did in previous editions of the Tour de Pologne.
Main photo credit: Getty
