After brilliant 2025, Victor Campenaerts set to back Vingegaard at 2026 Tour de France - "I was the best version of myself"

Victor Campenaerts has transferred from Lotto to Team Visma | Lease a Bike in 2025 and it has transformed him fully. He was brought on top be a luxury domestique and has truly become one of the very best for the likes of Jonas Vingegaard and Wout van Aert. Not only that, but he has reached his best-ever level, and in 2026 he is certain to head back to the Tour de France if nothing weird happens.

"It's not set in stone yet, but I think I'll have a good pedigree after this year. Everything seems to indicate that I'll get the same role in the same plan again. I'd be really excited about that," Campenaerts shared with RIDE Magazine.

The Belgian was brought in mainly to aid in the stage-races, as a very talented and experienced rouleur. His work at Paris-Nice for Jonas Vingegaard was meaningful, at the Criterium du Dauphiné was even better, and like Matteo Jorgenson, the duo just stuck side-by-side with Vingegaard always when it mattered, forming a perfect block. Campenaerts was to race the entire Tour-Vuelta double but a bout of illness took him out of the race in the final week.

But he served his purpose perfectly and at the Tour he was not only a critical domestique at all times of the race, but even came close to taking his own win on stage 15 to Carcassonne.

"I've reinvented myself a few times during my career. That keeps things fresh and challenging. I still feel just as enthusiastic as when I was a neo-pro, even though I've already become one of the older riders in the peloton. Especially on the climbs, I was the best version of myself last year. I'm really enjoying that. Hopefully, I can be even better in 2026. With that three-week cycling holiday in France as the biggest goal."

Campenaerts was awarded the 'Kristallen Zweetdruppel' (crystal drop of sweat, ed.) award. This is an award eligible for Belgian riders which awards domestiques every year, and Campenaerts truly earned it this year.

"I think it's truly fantastic. It was a very conscious decision to take this specific path and become a domestique in a major team. I really enjoyed that in the Tour. And for that kind of work, this is one of the most honorable recognitions. Globally speaking, even the most prestigious, in my opinion. Even though only Belgians are eligible."