Vingegaard fires back at critics after Pogacar’s Milan–Sanremo masterclass

In Saturday’s Milano-Sanremo, Tadej Pogačar delivered a performance that underlined his status as the rider to beat in 2026. After crashing, he clawed his way back to the peloton at the foot of the Cipressa and immediately launched an aggressive move that split the field and ultimately led to victory.

It was a ride that did not go unnoticed by Jonas Vingegaard, who followed the action while travelling. His reaction, shared during a press conference with quotes collected by Feltet, reflected both admiration and realism.

“I had to fly here yesterday. I tried to watch the race afterwards. It was a dramatic race with the crash. It was also a really good race to watch. A lot happened. I was very impressed by what I saw. That he came back and dropped everyone. Also that Wout van Aert made the podium.”

Pogacar’s victory adds to an already imposing start to the season, following his dominant solo win at Strade Bianche, stacked on top of a hugely dominant 2025 campaign and reinforced by suggestions from his team that he could be even stronger in 2026. This all only strengthened the perception that he holds the upper hand heading toward July.

That perception, however, is exactly what Vingegaard pushed back against. With the two riders expected to meet next at the Tour de France, some analysts have suggested the Dane is already on the back foot, despite his convincing victory at Paris-Nice. He dismissed that idea bluntly.

“Then I would say they shouldn’t be experts.”

Rather than framing Pogacar’s form as discouraging, Vingegaard sees it as a catalyst for improvement. The rivalry between the two has defined modern stage racing, and in his view it continues to raise the standard across the sport.

“Having a rival like Pogacar means everyone works harder and has to step up to win. We try to get better every day.”

Importantly, he insisted that his own mindset is not shaped by the presence or absence of his main rival. Race selection and preparation remain driven by internal goals rather than external narratives.

“I don’t really think about whether he’s there or not. I choose the races I want to ride, and then I race to win them.”

Vingegaard’s next test comes at the Volta a Catalunya this week, where he faces a strong field including Remco Evenepoel and João Almeida. After the race, the Dane will head to altitude to prepare for the Giro d’Italia, where he will aim to complete the Grand Tour set following his Tour de France victories and last year’s Vuelta win.