No faded glory, but resurrection, Jungels wants to win again: "My last chance"

The last time Jungels was victorious was July 9, 2022. Then he rode for AG2R Citroën Team and won the ninth stage of the Tour de France after an impressive sixty-kilometer solo. It was a personal victory and a ray of hope for the Luxembourger, especially after a few difficult years in 2020 and 2021. The Jungels who won Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne or ever rode top ten in a grand tour seemed far away. The ray of hope with the French was supposed to become a beacon of light due to a transfer to then Bora-Hansgrohe, but with the Germans, he was, in his own words, in a 'cocoon.' "At Ineos, the butterfly should become visible again."

Last week, Jungels attended an INEOS meeting at Old Trafford. He met his new teammates there, and cycling journalist Daniel Benson spoke with the Luxembourger about his latest adventure. "I am incredibly excited about the opportunity at INEOS. The camp was fantastic, and I immediately felt welcome. The introduction to the group went quickly, and I already know the guys my age for the most part. Working in a team where structure is the main focus is a privilege. That fits well with my vision of how a team should function," said the 32-year-old rider.

Still, the Luxembourger cannot deny that things are shaky for the British. The team's structure has been undergoing solid renovation, which should help it get back on top. There are parallels to be drawn between the rider and his new team, as both are looking for achievements of yesteryear. "In a rider's career, things don't always go uphill, and the same goes for a team. These are interesting times in cycling, with riders like Jonas Vingegaard, Tadej Pogačar, and perhaps Primož Roglič dominating the grand tours. Stage races have been part of Sky and INEOS' DNA from the beginning, so it's a great opportunity for us to prove that we can switch gears and show a different style of racing that might yield more victories."

For that very reason, Jungels is coming across the channel; he, too, wants to win again. So, finalizing the transfer didn't take long this summer. "Right before the Tour, I knew that this was the team I had always looked up to. I also realized that this was probably my last chance to have an impact and get the most out of myself. At INEOS, I can do that," Jungels said.

'What he wants most of all? To win! Not just to ride as a road captain but to go for his results again. "My main goal in 2025 is to win again. This season, I rode all the races with Primož and always did what was expected of me, but breaking out of that cocoon was hard. I love the role of road captain and putting my experience to use, but I have to say that personally, it didn't give me enough satisfaction. It was a great experience, and we had a great vibe in the team, but I believe that at Ineos, I will have my last chance for real wins."

The future will tell where that victory is to come. Jungels' program is not further described.