Victor Campenaerts: Vingegaard’s Key Role & Life as a Domestique
The life of a super domestique in professional cycling is one of sacrifice, relentless training, and a unique form of fulfillment. For Victor Campenaerts, riding for Visma | Lease a Bike and supporting Jonas Vingegaard has become precisely that. After a brilliant 2025, the Belgian is poised to again play a crucial role in Vingegaard’s ambitions at the 2026 Tour de France, a commitment he embraces with a level of dedication born from genuine admiration.
Campenaerts’ transition to Visma | Lease a Bike in 2025 proved transformative. Initially brought in as a luxury domestique, he quickly established himself as one of the most reliable and capable support riders for both Vingegaard and Wout van Aert. This success has solidified his position within the team and ensured his return to the Tour de France in 2026, barring unforeseen circumstances.
The demands of the role are significant. Campenaerts described the winter training blocks in Spain, balancing the rigors of elite cycling with the responsibilities of a young family. He spoke of the brutal reality of riding at the front of the peloton, pushing the pace until “half the peloton is dropped,” all in service of positioning Vingegaard for success. It’s a physically and mentally taxing existence, but one Campenaerts finds surprisingly rewarding.
What sets this phase of his career apart, according to Campenaerts, isn’t the pursuit of personal glory, but the trust and camaraderie within the Visma | Lease a Bike team. He highlighted the importance of a strong team dynamic, particularly within the Tour de France train, where every rider must execute their role flawlessly. Hearing Vingegaard express confidence in his continued support – “you will be a lot of time with me next year” – carries more weight than any stage win he might chase for himself.
Campenaerts’ admiration for Vingegaard is central to his willingness to make such sacrifices. “It would be hard to be a domestique for someone you don’t admire,” he stated, emphasizing that genuine respect for a team leader is essential, especially in the high-pressure environment of a Grand Tour. He describes Vingegaard as intensely “focused,” a quality that extends beyond the race itself. Vingegaard’s ability to manage the constant media attention and external pressures while maintaining unwavering concentration is something Campenaerts deeply respects.
The Belgian rider detailed the immense pressure Vingegaard faces, constantly striving for every possible second of advantage. This relentless pursuit of perfection, combined with the external demands of being a Tour contender, requires an exceptional level of focus. Campenaerts believes that any lapse in concentration could jeopardize Vingegaard’s chances. He notes Vingegaard’s ability to prioritize his energy and avoid distractions as key to his success.
Campenaerts’ perspective offers insight into the inner workings of a top-tier cycling team. He explained that within Visma | Lease a Bike, every detail is meticulously controlled, and each rider’s role is clearly defined. In such a structured environment, belief in the team leader is paramount. This admiration isn’t merely a matter of personal preference; it’s a critical component of the team’s success.
The cycling world has seen its share of team mergers and restructuring in recent years, and Campenaerts acknowledged the emotional toll these changes can take. He spoke candidly about the impact of mergers like those involving Lotto and Intermarché, where friends and former teammates are left competing for limited contract opportunities. This adds another layer of complexity to the already challenging world of professional cycling.
Campenaerts’ career has seen him squeeze “everything out of the lemon” of his own talent, as one observer put it. Yet, he willingly chooses to dedicate himself to supporting another rider’s ambitions. This selfless approach, fueled by admiration and a strong team spirit, defines his current role and underscores the unique rewards of being a super domestique in the modern era of professional cycling. His commitment to Vingegaard and Visma | Lease a Bike suggests he will be a key figure in the team’s efforts at the 2026 Tour de France and beyond.
Recent reports indicate Campenaerts was a DNS (Did Not Start) in a recent race, while teammate Kuss was cautious, and Romo was out due to an unspecified issue. The team described the situation as potentially more serious, but thankfully avoided a larger tragedy. , Campenaerts publicly praised Vingegaard, reiterating the importance of admiring the rider you support.