Jonas Vingegaard to make surprise return in 2026? - Visma | Lease a Bike respond to reports of Dane's early comeback
Cycling
Reports emerged on Monday that Jonas Vingegaard could be eyeing an unexpected return to racing in 2026, going back on a previous confirmation that the Visma | Lease a Bike leader would not be back in action until 2027.
Italian publication CyclingTime reported that the European Championships and Il Lombardia on October 4th and 10th respectively were on the table and that his recovery from injuries sustained at the Tour de France had progressed well.
Vingegaard crashed out of the Tour at the end of week two, hitting the ground hard as he suffered a broken collarbone as a result of the crash. Despite initial speculation that he could feature later in the season, he and Visma confirmed that the Dane would instead end his season and focus on 2027.
The report indicated that Vingegaard could return to target the two one-day races, but Domestique now report that Visma have denied the reports.
The dramatic u-turn would signal a surprise given the team and rider's communication, considering Vingegaard's successful and busy schedule before his crash, the fast-tracked return would have been a major surprise.
Jonas Vingegaard
Surprise return denied by Visma
The report emerged just days after Tadej Pogacar confirmed his 2026 season was over. The Slovenian, who would have been favourites for those late-season targets, suffered a broken collarbone, vertebrae and a concussion in a Vuelta a Espana crash at the end of the first week.
“After a long and intense racing period, a recovery period was planned after the Tour de France anyway,” Vingegaard explained in the team announcement last month.
“Due to the collarbone injury, the start of my training has been delayed and it is not possible for me to get back to top level in the coming period. The focus is on preparing optimally for the goals of the 2027 season. I will discuss these specific goals with the team in the coming period.”
Plan was always to reassess after Tour
Sports director Marc Reef said the injury ultimately settled the matter when it came to any late-season goals for Vingegaard.
“As announced at the start of the season, we would take stock of the remaining part of the season after the Tour de France,” Reef said.
“After a busy period with many days of racing and the collarbone fracture Jonas sustained in the Tour de France, it is best for him to focus on 2027. Together with Jonas, we will look at the right training build-up and goals for the new year over the coming weeks.”
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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