Visma | Lease a Bike finally see the old Vingegaard again: “He feels like he did before his crash”

Vingegaard was originally set to ride the UAE Tour and compete against Isaac Del Toro and Remco Evenepoel, but a crash and illness threw a wrench in his plans. Yet out of disappointment came an opportunity, and he seized it with both hands: in Paris-Nice, the 29-year-old climber is in a league of his own. That’s no coincidence, says Reef.

‘He was already in good shape after the winter. Of course, there was a minor setback, but we also changed the program. This was something we could work toward. He feels a bit like he did two years ago, before his crash. Last year, things didn’t go exactly as we had hoped, but physically, he feels like his usual self.’

A stage victory in the Race to the Sun would be a nice bonus, but it would only be a bonus compared to the main goals. In May, he will ride the Giro d'Italia for the first time, which he hopes to win right away and add a third Grand Tour to his list of achievements alongside the Vuelta a España and the Tour de France. But the Giro is also a preparation for the Tour.

“We truly believe that this will enable him to win the Tour,” Reef explains. “We know what we’ve seen over the past two years, and that meant we had to try something new. What we’ve observed from the Tour-Vuelta combination is that he performs very well after a Grand Tour, even better in the Vuelta. If we prepare well here, with a strong spring season, he can reach a very high level in the Tour and compete against Pogacar, because that’s what’s needed.”

Don’t think for a moment that Vingegaard is riding the Giro purely as preparation: he genuinely hopes to take the pink jersey, and then go for the yellow. ‘Only Pogacar has done it in this era. We’re ready for the challenge. When we wanted to win three Grand Tours in 2023, we asked ourselves: “Isn’t that too big of a goal? Is it even possible?” But we went for it. It’s good to dream big, but also to have a plan and believe in something.’

A major change for the Dane is the departure of coach Tim Heemskerk, who has been replaced by Mathieu Heijboer. “Mathieu doesn’t hold back; he pushes,” Reef observes. “That’s something that could bring about a positive change. We’ll see. It’s a shame that Tim has left. Over eight years of working together, Tim and Jonas built something, but maybe a change is good. It could bring something new.'

This week, wild rumors surfaced about Vingegaard’s departure, with INEOS Grenadiers reportedly interested in him. There are also whispers of an early retirement, similar to what Tadej Pogacar has already discussed. But Reef quashes those rumors. ‘Not at the moment. He enjoys what he does, and that’s the most important thing. That’s also what you can see, and what we feel.’