Vingegaard responds to carbon monoxide "rebreather" scandal: "I had no idea they could be misused"

The crash in Spain was a game-changer for Vingegaard, not only in the season but also in his life. "I started thinking after that crash," he told me during a press meeting. ''It's pretty normal for me to think about what the consequences of this crash might have entailed and whether it's all still worth it to be a pro rider. But I'm still cycling, so you know my answer."

And so the focus resumed, although things aren't the same anymore. "Cycling is not everything in life. I already knew that, of course, but when you've experienced a crash like that and know it could be over with your career, you start thinking about it even more." His time in the hospital was challenging. "In those days, I only left my bed once. During that time, I lost a lot of muscle mass. It took a long time before I was able to train normally again, as I was still in a lot of pain."

Le Grand Départ seemed too ambitious, but the defending champion wanted to be there at all costs. It seemed impossible, yet he could start in Florence. 'Before I could train normally again, it was mid-May. I was at a high level in the Tour, but I know now that you must be 100 percent to compete for victory. It was a miracle that I was at the start, but even more, I finished second.

In the last Tour, the Dane finished second, well behind Tadej Pogacar. Pogacar-Vinegaard, score: 3-2. "I have already shown I can defeat him," says the two-time winner. "But I also saw how he rode this year, and that clearly showed I have to step up my game if I want to win." He cannot confirm yet whether he includes the Giro d'Italia in his planning besides the Tour, as has often suggested. "The plan for next year is not quite set."

Carbon monoxide rebreathers were also discussed. Several teams use the drugs as a kind of testing device, but research shows that frequent use can be harmful. As a result, the UCI has even asked teams to stop using them. "I didn't even know it could be misused," Vingegaard says. "I said before that we only used them to test whether altitude training works. If you misuse it, it can be a substitute for altitude training. If you use it that way, there may be health risks involved. But we use it differently."

Vingegaard is unaware of any wrongdoing. Whether the team will continue using rebreathers is still unclear. In any case, Dane points to the exact results of the study. "That said, I've heard that if you do it once, it's like smoking one cigarette. And there are a lot of people who smoke several cigarettes a day," he concludes.