During an interview given to cyclismactu.net a few weeks ago, Bernard Hinault pointed out the premature end of Jonas Vingegaard's season, expressing doubts about the Dane's motivations and his love of Cycling. race. Vingegaard responded to him in the last few hours…
Some time ago, during an interview given to cyclismactu.net, Bernard Hinaultthe former five-time winner of the Tour de France, attacked Jonas Vingegaardwhose desire to race he questioned following the premature end of his season, in the middle of August.
“Vingegaard gives the impression of liking racing less than Pogacar”
Hinault had notably commented: “ He's not the first to do this. In the past, many riders who performed on the Tour said to themselves: “Life is beautiful, why should I continue to fight?” We might wonder if they like cycling because if we like cycling, we like racing and we like winning. Vingegaard gives the impression of loving racing less than Pogacar or Evenepoel ».
“When you say something like that…”
The words of Bernard Hinault were visibly relayed in Denmark and during an interview with the Danish media EkstraBladetthe leader of the team Visma-Lease A Bike was questioned on the subject. Vingegaard responded, in comments reported by cyclismactu.net : « When we say something like that, we may not take into account what happened to me this year. It is obvious that if I had not had this accident, I would have participated in more races. That's how it is. I don't think he takes into account the consequences for me, namely that I crashed and had to prepare for the Tour de France. A cycling season is about knowing how to give and take, and adapting to hazards. With this accident, I don't think I can be expected to be at my best for the rest of the season. I also don't think he understands the severity of what I went through. Many underestimate what it took for me to prepare for the Tour de France “. It is clear that reading the events of Bernard Hinaultaccording to which Vingegaard quickly ended his season after having “secured” a second place at the Tour de France, somewhere with the idea of maintaining his rating, appears particularly harsh for the Dane given the serious fall he suffered at the Tour du Pays Basque and the physical and psychological ordeal he had to face. In this context, the Dane's response ultimately appears very measured.
