Jonas Vingegaard set for Japanese holiday as Dane teases Giro debut in 2026: “It’d be great to combine the two — not be away from family for three straight weeks"

After a bruising debut in the Danish national colours at the 2025 European Championships, Jonas Vingegaard is already looking to the horizon — both literally and figuratively. While his long-time rival Tadej Pogacar soared to yet another dominant solo victory, it was a very disappointing early implosion for Vingegaard, who was dropped with over 100km remaining, his challenge over long before the race truly ignited.

But rather than dwell on disappointment, the two-time Tour de France champion is taking a different tack. A trip to Japan is next on the calendar — not just for racing, but for a rare chance to blend his cycling commitments with family time. “Japan is a fantastic country, so to experience what it's like over there — and hopefully a bit more than just Tokyo — will be really special,” Vingegaard told Feltet.dk after the race. He’ll travel to the country in early November to race the Saitama Criterium, and for once, he won’t be going alone. “My wife Trine and the kids [Frida and Hugo] are coming with me,” he confirmed to Feltet.dk.

It marks a welcome shift for the 28-year-old, who has often spoken candidly about the emotional and mental strain of long spells away from his young family. “It’d be great if you could combine the two — so that you’re not away from family for three straight weeks. That’s very old-fashioned,” he reflected during La Vuelta a Espana to TV2, where he went on to take overall victory in September.

His remarks echo the tone of the summer, when his wife, Trine Marie Vingegaard Hansen, publicly criticised Team Visma | Lease a Bike for "pressing the lemon too hard," a Danish idiom implying they had pushed Vingegaard to his limits. The family's presence was noticeably minimal during this year’s Tour de France, with Trine, her mother Rosa, and the children only joining up with Jonas at Stage 19. Between the Tour and the Vuelta, Vingegaard chose to remain in Annecy rather than travel extensively, a sign of his growing desire to strike a more sustainable balance between professional and personal life.

Now, after a subdued ride at the European Championships, where Denmark's hopes quickly fell on the shoulders of Mattias Skjelmose, Vingegaard seems to be recalibrating — not just in terms of racing, but in where and how he competes.

The Japan trip may be the next destination, but looking further ahead, Vingegaard dropped his clearest hint yet that the Giro d’Italia is firmly on his radar — perhaps as soon as 2026. “I said already during the Vuelta that I’d like to ride it,” he told Feltet.dk, “but it’s not just up to me — it also depends on what the team wants.”

Vingegaard has never raced the Italian Grand Tour before, but after winning both the Tour de France and Vuelta a España, it’s clear that the Giro is the missing piece of his Grand Tour puzzle. “The dream of completing the set — of winning all three — is of course something I think about,” he admitted, a smile breaking across his face when the subject came up. “I have my own wishes, sure, but we have to decide together what the team's goals are for next season.”

Despite the allure of the Giro, Vingegaard remains realistic — and loyal — to the race that has defined his career. “I think the Tour will still be the big goal,” he explains, “and it probably will be every year for as long as I’m riding and have a shot at winning it.”

That pragmatism speaks to the reality of modern cycling economics. The Tour de France remains the most valuable prize in the sport, and Team Visma | Lease a Bike’s commercial focus is unlikely to waver. But with Vingegaard clearly seeking greater balance — both in life and in racing — the pieces may be aligning for a new phase of his career. A season that blends ambition with family. A Grand Tour calendar that includes the Giro, not just the Tour. And perhaps most importantly, a lifestyle that allows one of cycling’s most reserved champions to breathe a little easier.

Before all that, however, comes the reset: a family trip to Japan, a criterium in Saitama, and a much-needed change of scenery after the brutal roads of the European Championships. “I just want to make the most of it,” Vingegaard said. “Both the racing — and the experience.”