Visma | Lease a Bike confirms crash of Jonas Vingegaard after Strava post from Spanish amateur: 'Jonas was angry with me'

It was Spaniard Pedro Garcia Fernandez who reported on Strava that he saw Vingegaard go down. “You can be professional, but you can also stay humble,” he began. “Jonas crashed when he tried to drop me at the Queen’s Fountain, and when I stopped to ask how he was, he got angry at me because I had followed him.”

Another amateur didn’t witness the crash itself, but arrived moments later in the Málaga area. “You both passed me on the descent, and when I was almost at the last corner, I saw Jonas standing by the barrier, with bleeding wounds in two places on his face. He must have hit it hard.”

“I also stopped and asked if he needed help, but he said no and told me to go away — very angry,” the passer-by added. “Now I understand it. It’s clear he’s the professional and responsible for how he goes up or down, but I also think people like him — professionals with so much at stake — should be given space and respected.”

“They risk their lives, their salary and the livelihoods of many people around them. It seems he felt a bit pressured and went down faster than he should have on a road he doesn’t know well,” the amateur concluded, siding with Vingegaard.

The Spaniard’s message gathered traction, and Visma | Lease a Bike felt compelled to respond. “Jonas Vingegaard crashed during training on Monday. Fortunately, he is okay and did not sustain any serious injuries,” the team wrote about the Danish leader, who would normally start his season at the UAE Tour.

The team submitted a request following the crash. 'In general, we as a team would like to urge cycling enthusiasts to always put safety first. For your own safety and the safety of others, we ask that you give cyclists room to train and allow them as much rest and space as possible.'

The squad added a clear request in the wake of the incident: “In general, as a team we would like to urge fans on bikes to always put safety first. For both your own and others’ wellbeing, please allow riders to train and give them as much space and peace as possible.”