Major setback for Vingegaard and Visma | LaB, Movistar also loses rider after crash caused by protester

Victor Campenaerts has abandoned the Vuelta a España. Visma | Lease a Bike announced on Tuesday morning via official channels that the 33-year-old Belgian had fallen ill and was unable to continue. The team’s medical staff ultimately decided to pull him from the race. Movistar and Soudal Quick-Step also suffered setbacks.

Visma | Lease a Bike had already lost Axel Zingle on stage 3, after a heavy crash on Stage 2 left him with a shoulder injury and unable to start the next day. Campenaerts played a crucial role as a strong domestique, even showing strength in the mountains. “I’m really disappointed that I won’t be able to help Jonas bring the red jersey to Madrid,” he said.

“I was feeling great before I got sick,” Campenaerts added. “I was able to do my job for the team, and now I’ll be cheering them—and Jonas—on from home.” This leaves Visma | Lease a Bike at a clear disadvantage compared to UAE Team Emirates-XRG, where João Almeida, currently second in the GC, still has all seven teammates by his side.

Soudal-Quick Step also scratched a name from the roster ahead of Tuesday’s stage 16. Young Italian Gianmarco Garofoli became the third rider from The Wolfpack to abandon this Vuelta. Valentin Paret-Peintre had already withdrawn on stage 4, followed two days later by Pepijn Reinderink.

As a result, junior GC hopeful William Junior Lecerf is seeing his support dwindle in his quest for a top-10 finish in Madrid. The young Belgian moved up to ninth overall by the second rest day, thanks to a successful breakaway. Fortunately, the four remaining teammates are strong: Mikel Landa, Maximilian Schachmann, Mauri Vansevenant, and Louis Vervaeke.

Movistar also saw one less rider finish stage 16 than started it. Javier Romo abandoned during the stage after previously crashing earlier in the Vuelta. “He had to leave the Spanish race following a crash last Sunday,” the team shared via X.

“Despite the pain, Romo tried to stay in the race and keep fighting, but in the end, he couldn’t continue,” Movistar stated. The crash was widely discussed, as Romo went down after a protester entered the road. After the stage, Jonas Vingegaard notably spoke out in defense of the protesters.