"A shame that a timeless moment has been taken away from us" - Jonas Vingegaard reacts to bizarre Vuelta a Espana victory

Jonas Vingegaard has officially won what will go down as the most unusual Vuelta a España in history. The Dane claimed his first Spanish grand tour without the traditional finale in Madrid, as pro-Palestinian protests forced the cancellation of the last stage and prevented the peloton from riding into the capital.

The result left the race without its customary podium ceremony or public celebration. For Vingegaard, the sense of accomplishment was bittersweet. "It's a shame that such a timeless moment was taken away from us. I'm very disappointed about it. I was really looking forward to celebrating this victory with my team and the fans. Everyone has the right to protest, but not in a way that influences or jeopardizes our career," he said in a Team Visma | Lease a Bike press relase.

Despite the abrupt ending, his dominance throughout the three weeks was beyond doubt. Jesper Mørkøv, one of the team’s sports directors, highlighted the decisive moments. "Yesterday we saw a beautiful final mountain stage. We knew UAE Team Emirates would want to toughen up the race, but our riders have done an incredible job supporting Jonas these past few weeks. He defended the leader's jersey with conviction and proved once again that he was the strongest rider in this Vuelta. Three stage wins and now the overall: Jonas is a more than deserved winner."

For Visma’s management, the victory was both a source of pride and reflection. CEO Richard Plugge praised the performance while lamenting the lost finale. "First of all, I am very happy and proud of this overall victory. It is sad that we and the fans have been denied such a beautiful finish in the heart of Madrid. We will celebrate the red jersey with our team in our own way and honor this fantastic achievement."

But Plugge also pointed to the broader issues the Vuelta had exposed. "Today, sport is increasingly being used as a platform to address social issues. We must realize that sport is, in essence, connection. It can build bridges and foster mutual understanding. But participants must be protected: they cannot become victims of this social debate. That debate must always remain outside the realm of the athletes. Athletes must be free to fight their battles on the playing field, in our case, on the road. Otherwise, the very essence of sport as a unifying force is at risk," he concluded.