“He remains that reserved person and that will not change”: Inside Jonas Vingegaard’s quiet rise, told by his coach

Jonas Vingegaard has defined an era of modern Tour de France racing through control, discipline and relentless consistency rather than outward charisma. While the Dane’s rivalry with Tadej Pogacar has shaped recent editions of the race, those closest to him insist his defining characteristics have barely shifted since his earliest days in the WorldTour.

In a wide-ranging interview with Wielerflits, long-time coach Tim Heemskerk offered rare insight into how Vingegaard has developed and why success has not altered the core of his personality.

Heemskerk first met Jonas Vingegaard when both were new to the then Jumbo setup. Even in that initial meeting, the coach noticed something distinctive. “I had no idea who he was. I found him a bit on the outside of the room. I quickly realised that he was introverted. Someone who prefers to stay in the background rather than be central in the group.”

That reserved nature, far from being a limitation, became the foundation of a working relationship built on trust and shared temperament. “In being calm. Our introverted characters suit each other. A certain trust developed very quickly between us.”

When Heemskerk began working with Vingegaard, expectations were modest. His climbing ability was clear, but little else was defined. “What kind of rider he would eventually become, we had no idea at that point. That he would win the Tour de France twice? No, we never expected that back then.”

Vingegaard’s background stood in contrast to many of his peers. He was still working part-time at the fish market in Hanstholm and had limited exposure to elite training environments. “I quickly realised that Jonas still had a lot to learn. In training, for example, he would just put water in his bottle.”

Early progress was rapid but uneven. Physical gains came quickly, while racing brought its own challenges. “In his first race, the Ruta del Sol, we saw that he was still very nervous in competition. That stress limited his performance.” Even when results arrived, responsibility weighed heavily. After taking the leader’s jersey in the Tour de Pologne, Heemskerk recalls that “the responsibility kept him awake all night, which meant he recovered poorly from the effort the day before.”

One of the clearest themes running through Heemskerk’s reflections is Vingegaard’s absolute commitment to structure. “In terms of compliance, following schedules, he does everything, so to speak, to a few decimal places. If you tell him to train for five hours in a certain zone, he rides those five hours in that zone.”

That precision is not blind obedience. “He understands very well that by following training schedules perfectly, you can discover exactly what works and what does not work for him.” According to Heemskerk, this consistency has allowed the performance staff to refine preparation with unusual clarity.

Despite becoming one of the defining figures of modern Tour racing, Vingegaard’s routines have remained intact. “The only thing that has changed him is becoming a father, being a family man. He now has two children.” Beyond that, Heemskerk insists little has shifted in how they work together.

“He remains that reserved person and that will not change. That is who he is.” Celebration, when it comes, is brief. Outward emotion fades quickly, with joy shared privately with family and team-mates rather than publicly displayed.

Heemskerk also reflected on the impact of Vingegaard’s heavy crash and subsequent recovery. “If you experience a crash like that, it affects you emotionally, especially in the beginning.” Yet he believes the episode strengthened his rider mentally.

That resilience was evident during hospital visits. “He already expressed his will to make the Tour. He had already had a small pedal bike delivered, one without resistance to place under a desk.” The message was clear. Preparation began immediately.

“All the exercises and training sessions we then planned towards the Tour, he executed very precisely, just as he does every year.” Once the Tour focus begins, Heemskerk sees a transformation. “Then it is essentially Vingegaard version 2.0. He has a goal, he is on a mission, and he will do everything throughout that entire period to succeed.”