Danish Rider’s Ambitious Schedule Revealed as Visma-Lease a Bike Unveils Plans for 2025
Jonas Vingegaard is set to compete in both the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España in 2025, aiming to return to peak form following a mixed 2024 season. The Danish cyclist, a two-time Tour de France champion, revealed his plans at a team press event on Tuesday, alongside key teammates who will join him on his ambitious campaign.
Vingegaard’s 2025 season will kick off at the Volta ao Algarve in February, followed by major races including Paris-Nice, Volta a Catalunya, Critérium du Dauphiné, and ultimately the two Grand Tours: the Tour de France and Vuelta a España. This marks the second time he will ride both the Tour and Vuelta in the same year, after securing victory in the 2023 Tour de France and finishing as runner-up in the Vuelta, behind his teammate Sepp Kuss.
The 28-year-old will face a familiar rival in the Tour de France, as he prepares to contest a third battle for supremacy against UAE Team Emirates’ Tadej Pogačar. Pogačar claimed his third Tour title in 2024 with a dominant performance, finishing six minutes ahead of second place. It’s expected that Pogačar may also target the Vuelta in 2025, setting the stage for a fierce rivalry.
“My biggest goal for 2025 is to win the Tour de France for the third time,” Vingegaard said in a statement. “It is the race that means the most to me. Its significance in the world of cycling is unmatched. The Tour always evokes a special feeling in me, so I’m looking forward to it immensely. I will do everything I can to ensure I’m in my best shape when the race starts.”
Vingegaard’s most recent competitive outing was at the 2023 Tour of Poland, where he took home a victory. After a well-earned break to spend time with his family, including the birth of his son in September, Vingegaard is now gearing up for his 2025 debut at the Volta ao Algarve next month.
“It’s been a while since I raced,” Vingegaard remarked. “Spending time with my family has been incredibly rewarding. Welcoming our newborn son in September was a special moment. But now, I’m ready to focus on the road ahead.”
The 2024 season was a challenging one for Vingegaard, despite several notable achievements, including wins at O Gran Camiño, Tirreno-Adriatico, and the Tour of Poland. A serious crash at Itzulia Basque Country in April severely disrupted his Tour preparation, leaving him with injuries that ultimately made it difficult to compete against Pogačar in the French Grand Tour.
“From a sporting point of view, 2024 was a bizarre year for me,” Vingegaard reflected. “It started fantastically, with victories in O Gran Camiño and Tirreno-Adriatico, and I felt ready for the Tour de France. I believed I was in the strongest form of my career. But recovering from the crash and the disappointment took time. My injuries were worse than many realized, and I ended up spending twelve days in hospital, eight of which were in intensive care. It was a tough period, but I learned a lot.”
Despite the setbacks, Vingegaard saw his participation in the Tour as a personal victory. “Just getting to the start line of the Tour was already a huge achievement,” he said. “Everything that followed was a bonus. Winning a stage and finishing second overall was incredibly special, and then winning the Tour de Pologne a few weeks later added to those moments of pride.”
For the 2025 Tour de France, Vingegaard will be supported by teammates Simon Yates, Matteo Jorgenson, and Wout van Aert. Yates, Van Aert, and Olav Kooij will also participate in the Giro d’Italia as part of Visma-Lease a Bike’s ambitious season. Van Aert, whose 2024 season was disrupted by injury, has set his sights on the spring classics, particularly the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, after missing both races the previous year due to a crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen.
“Last year’s disappointment has only fueled my motivation for the monuments,” said Van Aert. “I want to shine in the spring classics alongside my team.”
As the 2025 season draws closer, Vingegaard’s sights remain firmly set on the Tour de France, where he hopes to cement his legacy as one of the sport’s greatest riders.
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