Vingegaard’s Coach Tim Heemskerk Joins Red Bull After Visma Exit
- Tim Heemskerk, the coach who guided Jonas Vingegaard to two Tour de France victories and a Vuelta a España title, has joined Red Bull–BORA-hansgrohe with immediate effect, marking...
- The Dutch coach, who has worked closely with Vingegaard since the Dane joined the team in 2019, will operate under Head Coach John Wakefield and oversee the training...
- Heemskerk’s move follows a four-month period during which he announced his departure from Visma, citing struggles to continue applying his "creativity and passion" in his role.
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Tim Heemskerk, the coach who guided Jonas Vingegaard to two Tour de France victories and a Vuelta a España title, has joined Red Bull–BORA-hansgrohe with immediate effect, marking a significant shift in the cycling world after an abrupt departure from Visma | Lease a Bike.
The Dutch coach, who has worked closely with Vingegaard since the Dane joined the team in 2019, will operate under Head Coach John Wakefield and oversee the training management of selected WorldTour riders. His arrival strengthens Red Bull’s already experienced coaching group, where all coaches have guided riders to Grand Tour victories and podium finishes.
Heemskerk’s move follows a four-month period during which he announced his departure from Visma, citing struggles to continue applying his “creativity and passion” in his role. The coach’s decision came shortly after the team confirmed his exit in January 2026, ending an eight-year tenure that saw Vingegaard evolve from a promising climber into one of cycling’s defining Grand Tour champions.
Red Bull–BORA-hansgrohe welcomed Heemskerk’s arrival with enthusiasm, emphasizing his valuable experience in working with elite Grand Tour riders. “We are pleased to welcome Tim to our coaching group,” said Zak Dempster, Chief of Sports at Red Bull. “He brings valuable experience from working with Grand Tour riders and will be a strong addition to our existing performance staff. We are continuing to build a coaching environment with deep experience, different perspectives, and a strong culture of collaboration, and Tim is a very good fit for that environment.”
The team has not disclosed which riders Heemskerk will work with, but with Remco Evenepoel, Florian Lipowitz, Primož Roglič, Giulio Pellizzari, and Daniel Felipe Martínez on the roster, his expertise could prove crucial for the squad’s Grand Tour ambitions.
Heemskerk’s departure from Visma | Lease a Bike leaves a notable void for the team, which has relied heavily on his coaching to develop Vingegaard’s career. The Dane’s success—including back-to-back Tour de France wins in 2022 and 2023—was built under Heemskerk’s guidance, making this transition a pivotal moment for both the coach and the teams involved.
Red Bull–BORA-hansgrohe’s push to construct one of the strongest high-performance environments in professional cycling now gains further depth with Heemskerk’s addition. His arrival underscores the team’s commitment to assembling a coaching staff capable of competing at the highest level, particularly in the demanding Grand Tours.
The move also signals a broader trend in cycling, where elite coaches frequently transition between top teams to shape the next generation of champions. With Heemskerk now aligned with Red Bull, the stage is set for an intriguing chapter in his career—and for the riders he will mentor in the coming seasons.