“We’re at a disadvantage” – Concern for Visma and Vingegaard ahead of Vuelta TTT

Today’s stage of the Vuelta a España 2025 is the long-awaited team time trial, a 24-kilometer test where collective power and coordination can reshape the general classification. Team Visma | Lease a Bike enter the stage under pressure, having lost Axel Zingle earlier in the opening week of racing, meaning they line up with just seven riders instead of eight. For a team built around Jonas Vingegaard, every second counts, but head of performance Mathieu Heijboer insists the squad remains focused, prepared, and realistic about their goals.

“At this stage of the season, it's very difficult to pay specific attention to it, but luckily we have an experienced team and some of the guys who rode in Paris-Nice,” Heijboer explained to In de Leiderstrui. “The day before the first stage of the Vuelta, we trained together, and otherwise, we have a very strict set of agreements and working methods that every rider is familiar with. So it was a matter of repetition, although we are riding with a new lineup.”

The team’s build-up was limited, with no dedicated camp to fine-tune their efforts. “The time and energy we've been able to invest has been limited. We haven't set up a separate camp in the Netherlands, but we're confident in our approach. Although we did have to go back to the drawing board because Axel Zingle is no longer with us. The riders focused on stages 1 through 4 in the first few days, and I've been working on that time trial in the background. That won't be the case for the group until Wednesday.”

Heijboer did not hide how much of a setback losing Zingle has been. “That's a huge loss, especially because Axel is a very strong rider who was also crucial in Paris-Nice. Just calculate how much you lose if you suddenly have to start with seven riders instead of eight. It is what it is, though, and we're still confident we have a good team. We're going for it.”

On a course expected to reward raw horsepower, the team is leaning on some key names. “Ultimately, Jonas can't go faster than he can, but it's true that, especially in the second half of the time trial, the stronger riders often pull the load. That's when things get more consistent when they're in the lead. That's why I expect a lot from Victor and Matteo on a flat course, as they have a lot of absolute power. And Jonas will definitely hold his own.”

Heijboer also highlighted the role cycling culture plays in a discipline that requires constant practice. “In the Netherlands, there's already a lot of attention paid to time trials and the team time trial at a young age. In other cycling cultures, it's much less so, and in Great Britain, it's even more prevalent than here. If you don't do anything about it and don't pay attention to it, we've seen often enough how wrong it can go.”

Despite their optimism, expectations have been tempered. “I don't expect the gap between the top teams to be much more than half a minute or so. We're definitely at a disadvantage now, having a man down. There was a real desire in the group to go for the win, but I don't think that's a realistic goal anymore with Axel's loss. The level will be very high, with all the top teams well-prepared and equipped.”

Finally, Heijboer acknowledged the strength of their rivals. “I'm thinking of Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe. And Jayco-AlUla is traditionally strong in this event, although I can't recall which riders they started here. Then there's UAE Team Emirates-XRG, and I certainly hope we'll still be competing."