Tim Heemskerk is Jonas Vingegaard’s coach. He has transformed the Danish cyclist into the best Grand Tour rider in the world. In an interview with the Dutch magazine Wieler Revue, he provided details on how the Tour de France champion responds to training and his capabilities during competitions.
Perhaps it’s a tough question, but what makes him so good physiologically?
“His greatest quality is that he can sustain the power he generates during training all the way to the end of a race. This holds true even in a three-week race. The true ‘top’ cyclists distinguish themselves from the ‘sub-toppers’ because they can reach their maximum values at the end of the race. He can also do this at high altitudes or in hot climates.”
If Pogačar and Vingegaard had two weeks to prepare, let’s say, for Paris-Nice, would Vingegaard win?
Hahaha, that’s a tough question. I don’t know what Pogačar does, of course. What I do know is that Jonas makes very rapid progress in two weeks. Of all the cyclists I’ve worked with, Jonas is the one who can get into shape the quickest if he gets the right incentives.
How unique is Vingegaard in reaching his peak capacities at altitude?
“First and foremost, it has to do with his preparation. He spent over five weeks at altitude before the Tour. And after that, his body continues to adapt. His body has a memory. So, if you accumulate Training Camps at altitude, it will adapt more quickly when you’re at altitude. Jonas is someone who adapts quickly when certain challenges arise, like altitude, heat, or illness.”
“After ten days of not training due to Covid, Jonas improved very rapidly in two weeks. At this stage of his career, Jonas is simply progressing faster than the other riders on the team and in the peloton. We make a good pair because we’re both reserved. A bit more introverted. Thanks to Jonas, I’ve also learned a lot,” concludes the coach.