Vingegaard on track for World Championships in Rwanda
Jonas Vingegaard is still likely to make his first appearance at the UCI Road World Championships later this season. Danish national coach Michael Mørkøv confirmed to Feltet that the plan for the two-time Tour de France winner to race in Rwanda at the end of September remains unchanged following the Tour.
“It is the same as it has always been,” said Mørkøv to Feltet when asked about Vingegaard’s participation. While he did not reveal details of his recent conversations with the Visma | Lease a Bike rider, he explained that the Danish team will be built around the country’s best climbers.
Vingegaard placed second at the Tour de France, finishing behind a dominant Tadej Pogačar. He did all he could to challenge the Slovenian, who showed no signs of weakness, while Vingegaard himself endured two difficult moments in the time trial in the opening week and on the climb to Hautacam. Rwanda would mark his first appearance at a senior World Championships, offering a rare opportunity to test himself in a one-day event, far from his usual Grand Tour focus.
His résumé in single-day racing is modest compared to his stage race record. A 14th and a 16th place at Il Lombardia remain his best results in a Monument. This has fuelled ongoing debate about his race programme, with critics pointing to his limited number of competitive days each season and his near-total absence from the spring classics calendar. Supporters counter that his selective schedule has been key to his Tour success.
In May 2025, Mørkøv said the World Championships course in Rwanda is well suited to the Dane’s abilities. The 267-kilometre route features short but steep climbs adding up to more than 5,000 metres of elevation, with the entire race taking place at altitudes between 1,400 and 1,765 metres.
“The course plays to his strengths. He has shown before that he is very good at altitude with his body composition. There is a lot of climbing, which makes it a hard race. I think it is a good route for Jonas,” Mørkøv said.
Vingegaard will ride the Vuelta a España before the Worlds. Mørkøv acknowledged that this leaves no time for altitude training, but is confident it will not be a problem. “If you ride the Vuelta, there is not really time to train at altitude beforehand. But I believe the Vuelta will be a good preparation for the Worlds, and riders like Jonas are well adapted to performing in the mountains.”
The men’s road race takes place on 28 September, exactly two weeks after the Vuelta finishes.
