"Next winter we will look at his programme again" - Jonas Vingegaard and Visma plan further talks after Dane came close to retirement
CyclingWednesday, 15 July 2026 at 09:31
Team Visma | Lease a Bike are preparing for further talks with Jonas Vingegaard this winter after the Danish rider confirmed that he almost walked away from cycling over winter.
Vingegaard told media on Sunday that he approached the Dutch team's management last winter and asked for a change to his schedule and his preparation for races as they came to an agreement to give the rider greater influence on his programme.
He felt that the focus on training and nutrition as well as long periods away from family had led to him becoming unhappy during the 2025 season, despite winning the Vuelta a Espana after second place at the Tour de France.
Vingegaard's 2026 has proven successful as he won Paris-Nice, Vuelta a Catalunya and the Giro d'Italia, with Vingegaard himself noting that the season has been a step in the right direction.
Visma sports director Marc Reef confirmed to media that the team and Vingegaard had held talks last winter, and he expects there to be further changes in 2027.
“We are always speaking with him, and that was also the case at the end of last year,” Reef told In de Leiderstrui on Tuesday.
Vingegaard had originally been planned to ride UAE Tour
Originally slated to participate at the UAE Tour earlier this season, the Dane's new schedule involved the Giro-Tour double, which saw him complete the grand tour set and take home the pink jersey.
“That is how the programme we have now came together,” Reef said. “The Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France were the two main goals. The UAE Tour was originally part of it as well.”
Reef sees the positive impact the rider and team's discussions have had as he hinted that the team are not treating it as an isolated case.
He added: “I think everyone has been able to see since the winter that he is happy. That has been the case every time he has raced."
“Jonas is very open, he feels comfortable within the team and everything has gone very well so far.”
Visma and Vingegaard plan further talks
The dialogue never stopped between rider and team, and Reef said that further talks over winter are planned when it comes to Vingegaard's plans for 2027.
“We are always talking to each other, so next winter we will look at his programme again,” Reef said.
Vingegaard's original comments caused considerable surprise that one of cycling's biggest riders was close to walking away from the sport. Vingegaard explained how they came to an agreement.
Read also
“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.”
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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