Jonas Vingegaard has confirmed he will not compete at this year\u2019s world championships in Rwanda. Speaking at a press conference ahead of the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a, the Danish rider said the decision was based on timing and the need to be fully fresh.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have decided not to go. It doesn\u2019t really fit into the plans,\u201d Vingegaard told TV2<\/a>, adding that he still plans to compete at the European championships later in the season. \u201cYou have to be completely fresh to go to the worlds this year. It takes a lot, and I don\u2019t know how I\u2019ll come out of the Vuelta, so we decided it was best not to go.\u201d<\/p>\n Vingegaard, who is one of the favourites for this year\u2019s Vuelta, has prepared extensively despite a minor setback with illness following the Tour de France. \u201cIt has been the best possible preparation for me,\u201d he said of his training around Annecy.<\/p>\n The rider also confirmed he will skip other autumn races, including Il Lombardia. Reflecting on the 2023 Vuelta, where he and teammates Sepp Kuss and Primo\u017e Rogli\u010d swept the podium, Vingegaard said: \u201cEveryone on the team can be proud\u2026 I hope I don\u2019t get sick this year, so I can be there from the start this time.\u201d<\/p>\n Team Visma-Lease a Bike directeur sportif Grischa Niermann reiterated the focus on winning the Vuelta, while Vingegaard\u2019s family will remain in Denmark during the race to allow him full focus.<\/p>\n The Dane\u2019s withdrawal adds to a whole list of stars opting not to race<\/a>. That includes his countryman Mads Pedersen, Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert and Puck Pieterse. His own national team is also not sending juniors or under-23 riders. In fact, they are also skipping the time trials, only sending elites to the road race.<\/p>\n