Victor Campenaerts has grown into Vingegaard’s regular right-hand man — but he had to make big sacrifices for it

In 2025, Campenaerts made the move from what was then Lotto Dstny to Visma | Lease a Bike. Whereas the powerful Belgian was initially added mainly to Wout van Aert’s classics group, he has now become above all Vingegaard’s regular lieutenant.

The ever-cheerful Belgian is therefore set to line up alongside the Dane at both the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France, and he was also at Vingegaard’s side throughout this year’s Paris–Nice. Campenaerts looked back on that stage race with satisfaction, even if one thing still bothered him a little. “Apart from the team time trial, we put together a really nice race here.”

Even though the Dutch team started the final stage with only four riders, Vingegaard’s overall position was never seriously under threat, and the Dane still finished second on the day. “We had everything fully under control. We used the team in the best possible way. It’s a wonderful feeling when you sense that the opposition realise there’s nothing they can do about it,” said Campenaerts.

Where Campenaerts already showed outstanding form in the Race to the Sun, he hopes a four-week altitude block will help him take another step forward. At the same time, the Belgian knows that may be difficult. “The realist in me says I should already be satisfied if I can maintain my current level. The team and Jonas would be happy with that too.”

That good form is the result of a tough winter, during which the Belgian has not spent a single day in Belgium since November. His family have therefore been based in Spain throughout that period as well. “We get into bed every day at 8 p.m. My girlfriend follows the same routine. Looking after yourself always pays off sooner or later.”

For the time being, Vingegaard’s lieutenant will not be returning to Flanders either. “I’m going back to Spain now, where I’ll spend another two weeks with my family. After that I’ll head to Font-Romeu to get used to the altitude,” said the Belgian, who will then spend another three weeks on Teide at an altitude camp with the Giro squad.