“People say we are robotic - Sometimes you do not need a plan, you need courage”: Jonas Vingegaard hits back at Visma criticism

Jonas Vingegaard has pushed back against long-standing criticism of Team Visma | Lease a Bike’s racing style, insisting instinct and courage, not rigid control, defined both his approach and the team’s tactics during a season shaped by recovery and improvisation.

Speaking on the Inside the Beehive podcast, Vingegaard addressed the perception that Visma operate like a machine, arguing that his biggest victories this year came when he was given freedom to react to how he felt on the road.

“People say we are robotic. I think we showed we follow our instincts. If one day I feel great, I go for the stage. Sometimes you do not need a plan, but you do need courage.”

Those words reflect a broader shift in how Vingegaard describes his 2025 campaign, one that prioritised sensation over structure after a long and difficult recovery.

Vingegaard revealed that his second place finish at the Tour de France marked the first time since his major crash in 2024 that he felt physically close to his old level.

“The Tour was maybe the first time since my crash in 2024 that I was back on more or less the same power numbers. It took a long time to get there. It was a major crash and set me back more than I thought.”

That context shaped how Visma approached the race. Rather than riding conservatively, the team opted for aggression and pressure, a strategy Vingegaard openly enjoyed, even while acknowledging hindsight invites easy judgement.

“We wanted to race aggressively to put pressure on. Maybe in hindsight, we could have done something different, but it is always easy to be smart afterwards. I liked it, more on feeling, more aggressive. You do not need to race like that always, but for once it was nice to try.”

Despite finishing comfortably ahead of third overall, Vingegaard accepted the outcome without defensiveness, framing the defeat as fuel rather than frustration.

“I still believed I could win after a few bad days made a big difference, but in the end, the best guy won. That should give us motivation for next year.”

That philosophy carried into the Vuelta a Espana, where Vingegaard described a campaign defined less by domination and more by adaptation. With numerous uphill finishes on the route, the initial plan was restraint, but strong early sensations changed the picture.

“We knew there were so many uphill finishes you could burn yourself if you went for all of them. We targeted stage hunting towards the end, but when opportunities came early, I took them. The days you feel good, you have to take advantage.”

Illness later forced another tactical pivot, particularly on the Angliru, where ambition had to give way to survival.

“On stage 13 to the Angliru I wanted to win, but halfway I had to change from attacking to defending.”

The overall victory followed on the Bola del Mundo, though the official podium ceremony was cancelled. What replaced it became one of the most personal moments of his career.

“I came back to the hotel disappointed. I took some crisps and a beer and sat in the back of the bus. Then someone said we are working on a celebration in the car park. It became one of the most memorable podium ceremonies I have had. It was more intimate. I just had to be careful not to fall off the cooler.”

After briefly racing the European Championships, Vingegaard stepped away to recover properly, spending time with family before travelling to Japan. Training has now resumed ahead of Visma’s December camp, with the lessons of a turbulent season firmly in place.

“It gives motivation for next year.”

Rather than reinforcing the idea of a rigid system, Vingegaard’s reflections present a rider and a team increasingly willing to trust instinct, accept uncertainty and race with courage when the moment demands it.