"If this was how it was going to be, I couldn’t be in it anymore" - Jonas Vingegaard almost walked away from Visma | Lease a Bike over winter
CyclingMonday, 13 July 2026 at 11:57
Jonas Vingegaard has revealed that he almost walked away from Visma | Lease a Bike and professional cycling over winter after the 2025 season. However, after a conversation with the team's management, they struck a balance that's proved successful.
During the 2025 season, Vingegaard enjoyed some success but fell short in his Tour de France goal, once again finishing in second place behind Tadej Pogacar. His season did end on a high note, however, as he dominated the Vuelta a Espana to take a GC win.
But over winter, things came to the boil as Vingegaard requested a change to approach of the season. After talking to the team, they reached an agreement after realising that the Dane wasn't happy during the season.
“I said last year that if this was how it was going to be, I couldn’t be in it anymore,” Vingegaard told Danish broadcaster TV2 on Sunday.
“That’s also why we changed some things. I also think the team realised that this was how it was, and they could also tell from me that I wasn't happy last year. They accepted that we had to change something, and we did.”
Vingegaard on riders' schedules
When it comes to what specifically changed, Vingegaard suggested autonomy over his programme and race schedule as the major change. His 2026 season saw him take a new approach based around the Tour de France.
That meant a first Giro d'Italia for Vingegaard, seeing him complete the grand tour GC set as he comfortably took the pink jersey at the Giro d'Italia in May.
“I think that in general you should look at it more individually, what suits the individual rider best,” Vingegaard added.
“In order for cycling to become a sustainable sport again, it is probably more the direction to go that you create individual programmes for all riders. If it is hard to be away for such a long time, then you have to do something else, and that is what we have done for me this year.”
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Vingegaard encouraged by positive step
Vingegaard feels reinvigorated with more say in his positive step: “I’m much happier being a cyclist,” Vingegaard said. “We have taken a step in the right direction, but it is clear that it is only a step.”
Despite a fresh approach, he finds himself in a familiar place - trailing Tadej Pogacar but also clear of the rest of the chasing pack. At the first rest day, he finds himself 2:42 behind the Slovenian but isn't giving up the ghost.
“It may be that many people think so, but I don’t,” he added. “I have been behind in the Tour de France before and then won it anyway, and I still believe that it can be done. I intend to fight all the way to Paris for it.”
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- Didn’t you once tell us about being in Ohio (Cleveland? Cinci? I forget) for many years and that is why you understood America so well?RidesHills13-07-2026
- 'Wins by minutes, not seconds' - that's almost exactly what Vingegaard said before the final week in the 2023 Tour (the Tour will be won by minutes, not seconds), when he turned his lead of a few seconds over Pogacar into an advantage of several minutes in just two days. That's how confident of his ability he was then, when he could more than match Pogacar. People talk more about Pog because he wins different types of races too.Hills3313-07-2026
- I live in Croatia, and I have relatives in Slovenia. I never lived in the West. I'm a Balkan "boy." You Westerners have no soul, no feeling for life, no real happiness, you're like robots... except the Italians and Spaniards, they know how to live. We in the Balkans enjoy life, it's not all about the money. Capish?mus-musculuspeedypogigonzales13-07-2026
- I had a long answer with evidence of what has changed for Pogačar in the past 5 years, but decided to delete all that. A question: would any evidence answer your questions or will you just raise them, without evidence or answers, no matter what people say? I ask honestly. An answer would help all of us know how or whether to respond to you. Thank you.RidesHills13-07-2026
- Well, Mühlberger's omission was a big mistake
Rafionain-Glas13-07-2026 - a world.class athlete being this much better than he was just 5 years ago is suspicious.. The fact that he is percentage points better than anyone else in a sport that is not based on skill but ability is curious. Hi bike isn't better, they all train amazingly hard, yet he wins by minutes, not seconds. People are going to talk.Spike031113-07-2026
- Oh shut up you twat. No-one wants to hear your voice.Rafionain-Glas13-07-2026
- Major pain, why weren't they looking to sprint with Pogačar?Rafionain-Glas13-07-2026
- Sorry for the misleading comments, its a tought topic for me.. and i didn't expose my opinion in the best way. damn my english skills.. But really sorry for that.Alexcavalera13-07-2026
- Hello Moustrump, All I’ve said is think the WHOLE situation over and don’t rush with one-sided knee-jerk situational reactions that create more problems than they solve or just displace them. Am always astounded by how similarly your brain seems to work to the one you claim to hate, is that the immigrant syndrome where the established ones become the greatest opponents to newcomers?Mistermaumau13-07-2026
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