Should brand-new father Vingegaard focus on the World Championship? Frans Maassen says he should

Exactly one month ago, Jonas Vingegaard rode his last race of the season. The Dane of Visma | Lease a Bike won the multi-day race and finished his year. World Championship participation is no longer in the cards, but there are possibilities in the future.

In sporting terms, it was not the year Vingegaard had hoped for. Due to a hard fall in the Tour of the Basque Country, second place was the highest possible in the Tour de France. The win in the Tour of Poland was a boost: the Dane and his Dutch team decided to draw a line in the autumn there. An important factor in ending the season is his pregnant wife. Last week, she gave birth to a son. Sport director Frans Maassen maintained contact with his pupil. "I spoke to Jonas last week when he was busy with the family and their newborn son. With a new child, things are messy, and you sleep less," he told BT.

"Of course, I can't give all the details, but when you have a baby, you understand it's busy," Maassen continued. "But everything went well, and he is pleased. Jonas took a two-week break, but I think he is slowly getting back on track, and I think they will be in Denmark with the two kids for a while. So I hope the weather is also good for him to train."

Is Vingegaard focussing on the World Championship in 2026? "He should go there"

And so the sights are set on the future. Although the athletic director does not want to look too far ahead, he hints that he wants to convince Vingegaard to compete in the World Cycling Championships. Not the Zurich one, which starts this weekend, but the 2026 World Championship in Canada. "I've just been to two races in Canada, and now I'm going to convince him that it's an excellent track for him and that he should go there," Maassen told me.

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Why precisely that year? "From a sporting point of view, it might be a good place for Jonas to ride the World Championship," Maassen explained. Danish cycling fans had already expressed negative views about the 27-year-old climber not traveling to Zurich. "I understand very well that the Danes are angry that they won't get to see Jonas at the World Championship. On the other hand, you have to understand what he went through and what it took to get into the Tour and the Tour of Poland (after the Tour, ed.). He fought a lot; he was no longer in his best shape but still won the race."

So far, Vingegaard has yet to have the opportunity to defend the Danish colors in a pro context. That will change as far as Maassen is concerned. "It will probably happen one day, and of course, it also requires the Danish national team to want him on board. But this year, it wasn't his chance to show up in good form."