"Wout also knows that in those races in 2025, he got nothing from me" - Campenaerts on not being part of Visma's classics block this spring
Cycling
Team Visma | Lease a Bike signed Victor Campenaerts in 2025 and could've hardly hoped for a better outcome. The Belgian adapted to the role of a domestique and right-hand man for Jonas Vingegaard so well, that the team removed the classics from his schedule in 2026, where he had nowhere near as much use from his abilities.
A former time trial and breakaway specialist, Campenaerts stood out for over a decade on the bike from his individual performances on the bike, having the freedom to chase his own goals at Lotto. However turning 33 and after a long and successful career; he looked for a change.
That came in the form of his move to Visma. A former Tour and Giro stage winner - as well as two-time European time trial champion - it is hard to argue that his current performances are above, but for the team's overall level, it perhaps contributes just as much.
Campenaerts has quickly become one of Jonas Vingegaard's right-hand men. At Paris-Nice last year he began his new role and found himself perfectly adapted. The experience with positioning and big engine for the flat and hilly terrain makes him the Dane's personal guide through the tense moments of racing away from the mountains.
But even in the mountains Campenaerts has found his best-ever level. Aside from that, his daily vlogs proved to be a motivational success within the team, whilst his physical stature also makes him ideal in the moments where Vingegaard requires an urgent bike swap.
At the Criterium du Dauphiné and Tour de France this collaboration proved successful; so much so that the veteran even added the Vuelta a España to his calendar, to help Vingegaard towards the overall win. It made full sense that in 2026, this formula would be replicated.
“If there’s still one thing that would make my heart beat faster, it would be a stage win in the Vuelta to complete the trilogy. But I still have to be selected for that," Campenaerts said in an interview with Het Laatste Nieuws.
However, the Belgian rider is not set to race the final Grand Tour of the season, as his spot is already secured at the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France alike. Aside from those two races, at the time being, Campenaerts is only racing Paris-Nice where again, he meets up with the Dane in a race that is often very nervous and crash-marred.
It remains to be seen where else he will race this spring, but it is possible that he will also join the lineup at the Volta a Catalunya where the team should have a lot of the Giro block present. What won't be on his schedule are the cobbled classics, unlike most of his previous seasons.
No racing the classics this spring
“I’ve ridden well there before, and with Wout [Van Aert] we have a leader I get on with very well. But last year it just didn’t work. After every classic I drove home in the evening with a bag of ice pressed against my forehead.”
“In those races I lost confidence, and I also can’t really see what I was doing wrong, so it’s not easy to say how I can improve," he admits. His words are the complete opposite from the feeling he gets racing with the Vingegaard block in multi-day races.
"Last year, after the stage races, I drove home feeling euphoric every time. So why make it more difficult than it is? Wout also knows that in those races in 2025, he got nothing from me," he says.
Crashes and mechanicals often make these races chaotic; whilst the presence of riders such as Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel make them less and less tactical by the year; but instead a head-to-head between the leaders from far away. In such scenario, it is hard to be very useful for the team.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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- This is a really interesting idea, which, if well prepared could even be very successful. Very little money needs to be involved for a first season and any success could lead to rapid interest from sponsors.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Hmmm, you seem to have a very convenient black and white view of things. Perhaps you haven’t been around much to discover how complex problems can become over time with people who know how to control, manipulate (or worse) others so gradually or subtly that you arrive at an irresolvable situation before you realise. This is how many inconveniences get introduced to the young, naïve, passionate or “desperate”, knowing they are not armed, protected or strong enough to defend themselves once it’s too late. Why do you think omerta culture is so widespread, why do you think so many people continue to go through so many awful things in life that others can’t understand anyone getting into? Life may be far more jolly for you but you would do well to understand (or reflect more on) the real world to refrain from being so quick to criticise those in a hard spot that may have genuine reason for speaking out.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Seriously do you think when somebody gets into a serious accident, the ambulance is called by the hurt person?🤦 there is always a buddy system in place for a risky job. police , firefighters etc so that if someone gets hurt, the other call that in.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
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