"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

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.

“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.