Incredible story of Jonas Vingegaard giving 19-year-old amateur a lifelong memory in the Pyrenees: "For him, it was just a training ride – for us, it was unforgettable"

Jonas Vingegaard has been ramping up his preparations for the Tour de France with a series of training camps. During one of these sessions, the two-time Maillot Jaune winner crossed paths with 19-year-old amateur Paul Capelle and his friends. What happened next was nothing short of extraordinary, as Vingegaard’s generosity turned their routine ride into a memory they’ll never forget.

The three young Frenchmen had headed to Col du Soulor in the Pyrenees for an extreme ride when they suddenly spotted a Team Visma | Lease a Bike vehicle on the slopes. “His car passed us halfway up the climb and then pulled over to the side of the road. Grischa Niermann told us that Vingegaard was about two minutes ahead and that we might be able to catch him because he wasn’t riding very hard,” begins Capelle's recollections in conversation with Danish outlet TV2. 

“We had to push nearly 400 watts to reach him," Capelle continues. "When we caught up, I told him it was amazing to see him and asked - if it wasn’t a problem - whether we could ride with him. He said yes, and we ended up doing nearly his entire training ride together."

From the Col du Soulor, Capelle and co then rode with the two-time Tour de France champion to Hautacam, where Vingegaard was doing some reconnaissance ahead of this summer's fight for the Maillot Jaune. More than just the ride, it was the personality of Vingegaard that left Capelle most impressed, with the 28-year-old Dane showing a touch of class throughout.

“He was genuinely interested in me too. He asked what I do in the sport and if I race. We talked about all kinds of things - it was really cool,” Capelle explained. “It was incredible. First of all, he was incredibly kind. He didn’t act like a superstar - just a normal person. He wasn’t riding that hard, but we still had to fight to stay on his wheel.”

In the process, Vingegaard may have gained a few more fans. “Everyone knows the rivalry between him and Pogacar, and I used to be more of a Pogacar fan. But since the start of this season, and with Pogacar winning everything, I think I’ve switched over to Vingegaard,” concludes the French teen. “We feel incredibly lucky. Something like this will probably never happen again. Unless I win the lottery. For him, it was just a training ride - for us, it was unforgettable.”