Danish cyclist Jonas Vingegaard, a two-time Tour de France winner, has announced he will delay the start of his 2026 season. The postponement comes after a crash during training in January and a subsequent illness, his team, Visma-Lease a Bike, confirmed on .
Vingegaard, 29, was initially slated to make his season debut at the UAE Tour later this month. However, the combination of the physical impact from the crash and the ensuing illness has prompted a change in plans. “I was really looking forward to returning to the UAE Tour and am therefore disappointed that we have had to make this decision,” Vingegaard stated in a team release. “However, the combination of the crash and subsequent illness made it necessary. It is better to fully recover first so that I can then focus on my next goals.”
The crash occurred on while Vingegaard was training in the Malaga region of southern Spain. The incident involved an attempt to distance himself from an amateur cyclist, a situation that has become increasingly common for professional riders, according to reports. Vingegaard reportedly accelerated on a descent to move away from the amateur rider and lost control, resulting in the crash.
While the team has not disclosed the specific nature or severity of Vingegaard’s injuries sustained in the crash, they have emphasized the importance of allowing him adequate time to recover. The subsequent illness, occurring a week after the crash, further complicated his preparation for the season. The team has issued a call for cycling fans to respect the space and privacy of professional riders during training.
Vingegaard’s revised schedule is currently under consideration. The Volta a Catalunya, scheduled for the end of March, is now a potential starting point for his season. This would allow him a period of racing before focusing on his primary objectives: the Giro d’Italia in May and the Tour de France in July.
The withdrawal from the UAE Tour also means Vingegaard will miss a highly anticipated early-season showdown with Remco Evenepoel of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe and Isaac Del Toro of UAE Team Emirates-XRG. The UAE Tour was expected to be one of the first major opportunities for these general classification contenders to test their form against each other.
The incident highlights the challenges faced by professional cyclists in maintaining a safe training environment. The increasing prevalence of amateur riders closely following professional athletes during training sessions has raised concerns about potential safety risks. The Visma-Lease a Bike team’s call for fans to provide riders with adequate space underscores the need for greater awareness and respect for the training needs of professional athletes.
From a medical perspective, the combination of a crash and subsequent illness can significantly impede an athlete’s recovery and preparation. Traumatic injuries, even if not immediately severe, can disrupt training schedules and lead to compensatory changes in biomechanics, increasing the risk of further injury. The addition of an illness introduces a further layer of complexity, potentially impacting cardiovascular function, immune response, and overall energy levels.
Allowing sufficient time for complete recovery is crucial for athletes to regain optimal performance and minimize the risk of long-term health consequences. Rushing back to competition after an injury or illness can lead to re-injury, prolonged recovery times, and potentially career-ending complications. The decision to prioritize recovery, as Vingegaard and his team have done, reflects a responsible approach to athlete health and well-being.
The Giro d’Italia and Tour de France remain Vingegaard’s key targets for the 2026 season. His ability to successfully compete in these prestigious races will depend on a thorough and well-managed recovery process, followed by a carefully planned build-up to peak performance. The cycling world will be watching closely to see how Vingegaard’s season unfolds.
