Vital domestique for Jonas Vingegaard abandons Vuelta a Espana - "I was feeling really good"

Team Visma | Lease a Bike, tactic wise, have been able to control the Vuelta a Espana thus far but luck wise, they have not had the best luck with the health of their riders. Right on the opening days of the race the team lost Axel Zingle who was injured in a mass crash. Entering the final week of the race, the Dutch team will have to go on without Victor Campenaerts.

The Belgian was a key right-hand man for Jonas Vingegaard at the Tour de France, supporting him on the flat and hilly stages and also displaying a climbing level that he has never had before. After the end of the Tour, he volunteered to also race the Vuelta, hoping to play a role in the team's overall victory.

If the Dane is able to bring it home, Campenaerts will have played a role, however he will not make it to Madrid. Over the rest day the 33-year developed an illness and will not continue the race, with the team confirming his departure.

“I am very disappointed not to be able to help Jonas bring the red jersey to Madrid. Before I fell ill, I was feeling really good and was able to do my job for the team. I’ll be cheering for Jonas and the guys from home.”

Campenaerts' departure from the Visma lineup provides Visma with a new challenge, which is the clear numerical inferiority against UAE at this point in time. Although Zingle and Campenaerts are not the men that would be supporting the red jersey up the high mountains, it leaves the team depleted of important resources to control the race, prevent UAE from having riders in breakaways, and limit the team's tactical options as well.

Campenaerts was in the breakaway on stages 12 and 14, and had the clear role in some days of being in the head of the race to provide a potential launchpad for an attack or defense of Jonas Vingegaard's jersey in late points of the race - whilst simultaneously, his presence on the breakaway in those days aided in Visma not being attacked early on.