Jonas Vingegaard shrugs off Pogacar obsession talk and weighs in on Paul Seixas hype

Speaking to RMC’s Bartoli Time at Paris-Nice, the 29-year-old reflected on the rivalry that has defined modern Grand Tour racing.

“I wouldn’t say it’s an obsession, it’s more a motivation,” Vingegaard said. “I want to beat the best, and I know I have beaten him twice, which makes me very happy. It also gives me confidence that I can do it again.”

The Visma | Lease a Bike rider explained that the past two seasons have not always gone smoothly, particularly after his Itzulia Basque Country crash that took time to recover from.

“A lot of things have happened in the last two years and many things affected me,” he said. “First I had a big crash two years ago and it took time to recover and come back. I think now I’m finally at the point where I’m back.”

He added that the consequences of that crash were more significant than many people realised. “It took time, but if people knew the consequences of that crash they would understand why it took so long to return to my best level.”

Vingegaard was also asked about the rapid rise of French teenager Paul Seixas, who recently impressed by finishing second at Strade Bianche and has already sparked discussion about a potential Tour de France debut.

“He is certainly one of the biggest talents in cycling right now,” Vingegaard said. “He will have time to win the Tour de France.”

Still, the Dane believes expectations should be managed carefully around the 19-year-old. “Whether he can be a real contender this year, it’s too early to say,” he explained. “It’s always difficult to know who will compete for the Tour de France victory. I’m not saying it can’t be this year. I just want to wait a bit and see if he can do it.”

Vingegaard also warned that the attention surrounding the young French rider will bring significant pressure. “There is a lot of pressure around him,” he said. “I haven’t spoken with him. For a French rider to be one of the biggest names and have the opportunity to win the Tour de France in the future naturally brings a lot of pressure. He just needs to stay as calm as possible.”

Away from racing, Vingegaard emphasised how important his family has been in helping him deal with the demands of professional cycling. “As an athlete in general, not just cyclists, you are away from home a lot and it’s very hard,” he said. “For me, my family plays the biggest role in what I do. They support me in everything.”

Mental health has also become a key topic in the peloton in recent years, something Vingegaard says he now considers carefully when planning his season. "I think mental health is very important,” he said. “This year I had many discussions with my team about planning the season and managing the time away from home.”

With both the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France on his programme, the team has tried to create a calendar that allows more time at home between races. “We created a program so that I have more time with my family between races,” he said. “Mental health is probably the most important aspect of performance on the road.”