It has been half a yr since Jonas Vingegaard final took on an expert race, with the Dane calling an early finish to his 2024 marketing campaign after successful the Tour de Pologne final August.
Now, he is again in motion this week as he heads to the Volta ao Algarve, kicking off his 2025 season and starting the racing highway again to the Tour de France searching for a 3rd total victory.
Talking the day earlier than the race, which kicks off in Portimão on Wednesday, Vingegaard stated he is “not trying to find solutions” after such a protracted lay-off from racing.
He additionally famous that he appears like he is made a step ahead throughout a winter which has seen him keep away from coaching at altitude.
“I do not know if I am trying to find solutions. I feel I am simply going to get pleasure from racing once more,” he stated in a pre-race press convention on Wednesday.
“I really feel like I’ve made a step. I really feel robust for the time being. You by no means know what everybody else has executed so it is arduous to check. You simply need to deal with your self, and I’ve focussed all winter to get nearly as good as potential.
“I’ve modified method and have not been at altitude camp, so will probably be fascinating to see what that does to the form.”
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Vingegaard will head to the Algarve for the primary time in his profession, having opted within the final two seasons to begin his yr at O Gran Camiño in north-western Spain.
This week’s five-day race is step one in direction of his massive spring targets of Paris-Good and the Volta a Catalunya, he stated, whereas it is also an opportunity to keep away from the unhealthy climate he is skilled at O Gran Camiño, and an opportunity to do battle with former teammate Primož Roglič.
“I actually like [O Gran Camiño], however I did not just like the climate we have had within the final two years,” Vingegaard stated. “So possibly I needed to attempt one thing new and see.
“I am comfortable to be right here and I am trying ahead to the race. I hope to have the ability to battle for the win. Now we have a powerful staff as properly, and I am not the one one who’s in a position to do one thing. We’ll go for it, for certain.
“I feel my major opponent is the one you simply talked about,” he added after he was questioned about racing towards Roglič. “It is a robust peloton right here and clearly I additionally need to be on a superb and excessive stage. I hope to have the ability to compete with these guys for the overall classification.”
Vingegaard did not give away a lot about his potential form heading into the race, which brings a summit end on the Alto da Foia on stage 2 after which a 20km time trial heading up the Alto do Malhão on stage 5.
“It has been a superb interval, to be sincere. I’ve had some good coaching within the final 4 or 5 weeks, so I feel the form is coming alongside and I am actually trying ahead to racing once more,” he stated.
“It has been some time since my final race, clearly however in fact, now I am trying ahead to this race and my subsequent races
“After all I miss racing. I like to race and that is why I really like this job. I have been coaching lots however I wanted the low season early final yr due to all the pieces that occurred, clearly.
“However now, I am motivated for this yr, particularly now for this race and the upcoming races. Then we’ll see, additionally for afterward within the season.”
