"I was a little surprised myself" - Jonas Vingegaard's Giro d'Italia mountain hero reflects on remarkable first year at Visma
Cycling
Few riders made a more unexpected impression during Jonas Vingegaard's Giro d'Italia triumph than Tim Rex. The young Belgian, who had been racing for Team Visma | Lease a Bike's development squad just months earlier, emerged as a formidable mountain domestique, repeatedly pushing himself to the limit in support of the eventual overall winner.
Now, reflecting on his first season in the WorldTour, the 22-year-old admits that even he did not expect to make such rapid progress at cycling's highest level.
"I was a little surprised myself," Rex told WielerFlits. "Of course, you know you're strong, but the WorldTour is still an incredibly high level."
His performances in Italy were particularly memorable. On the mountainous 14th stage to Pila, Rex took responsibility for setting a punishing tempo over successive climbs, driving the peloton across the ascents of Saint-Barthelemy, Roisan and Doues before finally handing over to Bart Lemmen on the climb of Lin Noir.
The sight of the young Belgian grimacing through the pain at the front of the race became one of the defining images of Visma's Giro campaign. Vingegaard eventually attacked clear on the final climb to claim the stage victory and pink jersey, with Rex having played a significant part in the work that made it possible.
"I'm really happy with how my year has gone," Rex reflected. "I've had the opportunity to race some fantastic events. Of course, the Giro, with Jonas winning overall, stands above everything else."
Pain face hall of fame entry 🥵 Tim Rex turned himself inside out for team leader Jonas Vingegaard on the Doues & Lin Noir climbs on Stage 14 of the Giro d’Italia 💪 Tim Rex – combined effort over last 2 climbs ⏱️ Time: 31‘00“ ⚡️Avg power: 400w 💥 Max power: 580w https://t.co/4c9AdDYl6q
— Velon CC (@VelonCC) May 23, 2026
From overlooked development rider to Vingegaard's trusted teammate
Rex's emergence was not accompanied by the sort of junior or under-23 winning record that typically draws attention to cycling's most highly rated prospects.
After two seasons in the Intermarche-Wanty development structure, he joined Team Visma | Lease a Bike Development for 2025 and earned promotion to the WorldTour squad after just one year. By the following May, he was helping Vingegaard win one of cycling's three Grand Tours.
His relative anonymity before that breakthrough was partly a consequence of the responsibilities he had already taken on in the development ranks. "A lot of people don't know me from the development team because I never really had that many results," Rex explained. "But I was already working for my team leaders there as well. I'd much rather help my leader win than ride for fifteenth place myself."
Visma's coaching staff had recognised his abilities long before the Giro. Mathieu Heijboer, the team's Head of Coaching, had even predicted earlier in the year that Rex could surprise observers at WorldTour level. "Nice, isn't it?" the Belgian laughed when reminded of that prediction.
There was another indication of the team's confidence in September, when Visma extended Rex's contract until the end of 2029, despite him still being in the first season of his original two-year WorldTour deal. "Of course, I was a little surprised, but more than anything I was really pleased," he said of the new agreement. "It's a sign of appreciation from the team."
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At 22, Rex has already proved himself capable of considerable work in the mountains, although his physical characteristics are quite different from those of his older brother Laurenz Rex, who races for Soudal Quick-Step.
"We're completely different types of riders," Tim explained. "He's really suited to the Classics and is very good at short, explosive efforts. That's less my thing. I'm better at longer efforts."
His first professional campaign has nevertheless extended well beyond the Italian mountains. Rex has featured in races ranging from Strade Bianche and Liege-Bastogne-Liege to the Canadian WorldTour Classics, gaining experience across a varied programme while continuing to operate primarily in support of more established teammates.
For all the progress made during 2026, he is reluctant to predict where his career might eventually take him. Asked whether he could develop ambitions beyond his current domestique responsibilities, the Belgian left the possibility open. "We'll have to see about that. Maybe I'll develop enormously, but I'm also very happy with how things are going at the moment."
His immediate priorities remain firmly with Visma, where his unexpectedly successful debut season has already secured him another three years beyond 2026. "To be the best version of myself, although of course every rider wants to get the most out of themselves," he said. "At least I'm at a good team to do that."
Having already helped Vingegaard conquer the Giro, Rex will head into 2027 with considerably more experience and responsibility than he could have anticipated twelve months earlier. Whether that eventually translates into personal opportunities is still uncertain, but Visma have ensured they will be the team overseeing his development until at least the end of 2029.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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