“It’s obviously very bitter” - More bad luck for Team Visma | Lease a Bike as Axel Zingle crashes out of 4 Jours de Dunkerque

Team Visma | Lease a Bike’s run of misfortune in 2025 has continued, with Axel Zingle forced to abandon the 4 Jours de Dunkerque after crashing on stage 4. The 26-year-old Frenchman had been leading the general classification and looked poised to fight for the overall win on home soil, but it was not to be.

Zingle’s hopes came to an abrupt end around 25 kilometres from the finish, when he crashed in a corner and was unable to continue. The incident also involved teammate Per Strand Hagenes, who impressively managed to finish the stage and still contest the final sprint.

Team sports director Frans Maassen expressed his disappointment in a team press release.

“It’s obviously very bitter that Axel had to leave the race in this way. He was really feeling strong today. Along the way, he even picked up some bonus seconds, and together with Per, he was always well positioned. Per was also involved in the crash, but he managed to continue. It’s very impressive that he was still able to contest the stage win today. We’re very disappointed, as an overall victory with Axel was definitely within reach tomorrow.”

Zingle’s withdrawal is yet another setback for Team Visma | Lease a Bike in what has been a challenging season so far. From Wout van Aert’s Giro struggles to repeated crashes and near-misses across Europe, 2025 continues to test the depth and resilience of one of the sport’s most successful teams.

The question now looms: when will a Visma rider finally catch a break this season?