Bernard Hinault pokes Vingegaard: “If you love cycling you want to compete”

Next Sunday, September 29, the best cyclists on the planet will fight for the rainbow jersey in the Cycling World Cup road race that will be held this year in Zurich. But not all of them are there. Jonas Vingegaard announced at the beginning of the month that it was ending a difficult period marked by its serious fall in Itzulia. The Dane managed to recover in record time to join a Tour de France where he was overtaken Tadej Pogacar.

His decision not to compete again this season did not please everyone. In an interview with ‘CyclismActu’Bernard Hinault is critical of the Dane. “He is not the first that I have decided not to compete all year. If you like cycling you want to compete, as in the case of Pogacar. It gives the impression that Vingegaard prefers racing,” said the last French winner of Tour from France, champion in 1985.

Moreover, he put Vingegaard behind Pogacar and Evenepoel because “Remco, in addition to being third in the Tour, won classics and other races.” In the end he acknowledges that “it’s always a pleasure to see them run, especially Tadej, who doesn’t run to please others. He runs to win, he reminds me of Eddy Merckx.” Hinault considers the Slovenian a strong favorite to win the World Championship. “I don’t think he will have too many problems but there are other good riders and everyone is looking for him.”

Hinault He laments the current situation of French cycling because despite having elite riders “like Julian Alaphilippe, we don’t have a super champion who can fight for grand tours and classics.” Finally, he had a few words of recognition Pablo Torressecond in this year’s Tour del Porvenir, and acknowledged that “despite not winning, he was amazing. He did amazing on the last day in Finestre.”