COPENHAGEN – Danish cyclist Jonas Vingegaard has had a “rough time” since winning the Tour de France in July, the sporting director of his club Jumbo Visma said on Thursday (18 August).
The 25-year-old rider, who was absent from the start of the Tour of Denmark on Tuesday and will not compete at the World Road Championships in Australia in September, has kept a low profile since his triumphant return to Copenhagen.
Tens of thousands of people lined the streets to welcome Denmark’s first Tour de France champion since Bjarne Riis – who later admitted doping – back in 1996.
“I understand the fans want to see Jonas and I spoke to him about it yesterday. But he had a very difficult time after the tour,” Frans Maassen told the daily Ekstra Bladet.
“We would have liked to have shown him at this race (the Tour of Denmark) but we also have to understand that winning the Tour de France and all that that entails was difficult.”