Pro cyclist Jonas Vingegaard was ready to face some tough questions from the media after he completed Stage 15. Jonas was aware of the rumors surrounding his performance. The Dane had undergone an additional blood test before the race, yet the validity of his victory was called into question. Jonas had to face multiple questions regarding the rumors that he took performance-enhancing drugs, but the champion remained composed and confident in his response.
Jonas finished the race way ahead of his chief competitor, Tadej Pogačar, with a lead of 1:48. He also showed no signs of slowing down the following day. He pulled ahead of the Slovenian by six minutes, proving himself as the top contender for the yellow jersey. But, he did not get time to celebrate his victory as Jonas had to face a barrage of embarrassing questions moments later.
Jonas Vingegaard grilled by media after rigorous testing at Tour de France
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Jonas Vingegaard displayed his superior skill at the time-trial event. The media wanted to know the secret behind his exceptional performance. A French sports news outlet named L’Équipe reported the news with the headline, “D’une autre planète”. This was a jab at the ace cyclist, suggesting that his otherworldly performance resulted from doping. The outlet had used the same phrase for Lance Armstrong after his 1999 Tour de France victory.
The Dane refuted the doping allegations in the NOS interview, which was later reported by cyclinguptodate.com. Vingegaard said, “I can say that these are not times like with Lance Armstrong. We run on different fuel than Armstrong did”. He was tested four times in less than 48 hours to eliminate these rumors. Still, the backlash from Armstrong’s doping scandal had a lasting impact on the credibility of all professional cyclists.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
The cycling world has acquired a bad reputation
Jonas was at his wit’s end, trying to convince the public that he was clean. At one point, he also said, “I don’t take anything I would not give to my daughter”. He admitted that the cyclists are delivering better speeds than their predecessors but attributed that success to better diet and technology. Jonas said the training equipment had changed significantly, resulting in better techniques and performance.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Jonas said that he respects the speculations as it will help keep the sport clean and on the right track. Ultimately, he was happy with his performance and proud of the hard work he had put into his training. He is confident that no one can take his win from Tuesday away. It should be enough to dispel doubts about this Danish superstar’s performance.
Watch This Story: 22-Year-Old Cyclist Becomes the Youngest Spanish to Bag the Stage 14 Victory in Tour de France