Visma's treatment of Jonas Vingegaard labelled "downright disgraceful" as Dane is urged to look for new team: "Even Tadej Pogacar said he wouldn’t be happy"

Whether or not Jonas Vingegaard remains in the fight for the Maillot Jaune at the 2025 Tour de France is likely a debate that splits opinion. As far as Team Visma | Lease a Bike are concerned however, they should be backing Vingegaard’s GC all the way to Paris, something they have given up on over recent days, at least in the opinion of one former Tour de France winner.

"I know I keep having a go at Visma, but honestly… this is getting ridiculous. The way they’re riding is utterly hopeless. I just don’t get it," begins a furious Bjarne Riis in his column for BT.dk. "After Sunday’s stage, it’s a legitimate question to ask whether Jonas should start looking for another team. They clearly don’t have him as their top priority. It’s so disappointing to watch. Even Tadej Pogacar said he wouldn’t be happy if he were Jonas Vingegaard."

"He laid it all out on a silver platter—completely exposed Visma—saying he couldn’t understand how three of Jonas’ teammates could attack one after another on the front while Jonas was dangling at the back of the bunch," Riis explains. "Pogacar had to chase them down himself, and as long as he’s doing that, Jonas has no chance of getting back into the race. I’m sorry, but that’s bloody critical."

Indeed, Pogacar’s criticisms of Visma sparked widespread debate on the team's handling of Vingegaard, something that had already been questioned earlier in the race by the Dane's own wife. Because of this, Riis believes the time may be approaching where Vingegaard and Visma part ways, although he admits the reality of that situation is difficult.

"It’s a bit too easy to just say Vingegaard should switch teams—even if it feels like the obvious reaction after that stage. Because let’s be honest: it’s not going to happen. We’re talking about Jonas here — not just any rider. He values familiarity and stability. He’s on a long contract," Riis explains. "That would mean new people, a new environment, a new setup—and I don’t think he’s necessarily up for that. I think he’ll grit his teeth and get on with things. Or he’ll slam his fist on the table and say: 'Right, enough is enough.' Maybe Trine saw it coming when she made those comments at the start of the Tour."

"It’s honestly such a shame that we’re even having this conversation. We’ve got a Dane who’s won the Tour de France twice—someone we all cheer for. We want to see him fly. Shine. Win the Tour. And yet they’re treating him like this," continues Riis with fury. "The team is hanging him out to dry, and I think it’s downright disgraceful. What the hell are they thinking? You don’t see this kind of thing happening on any other team."

"I’ve got a bit of experience in this world. I’ve been through a lot, both in my career and in life. And this? This isn’t right. Once or twice, fine. But this keeps happening again and again and again," adds the 1996 Maillot Jaune. "Jonas isn’t getting the support he needs. It’s obvious. And it’s a real problem. Right now, he’s riding for the wrong team. As a Dane, I can’t help but think: 'Hmm, Jonas, you’ve got to do something about this.' How well does he have to ride before Visma believe in him?"

"Show the man some respect. He’s fought hard to be where he is. Show respect for the world-class rider that he is. He absolutely deserves it, and I really struggle to see why it has to be like this," Riis concludes. "The problem is, the management have promised van Aert he can do whatever he likes. Of course that’s going to create problems and conflicts from time to time—even if I do believe the riders themselves get on well enough. But the leadership strategy just doesn’t fit. So we ended up with this situation on Sunday’s stage, where Jonas looked completely abandoned by his own team—who seemed far more interested in chasing the stage win."