The family photo behind Vingegaard’s emotional Giro celebrations
Three mountain victories. Three familiar gestures. As Jonas Vingegaard crossed the line in Pila, his celebration told the same story again: before the podium, before the press and before the pink jersey, there is family.
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First came Blockhaus, where Vingegaard edged Felix Gall in a two up sprint and put serious time into most of his Giro rivals. Then came Corno alle Scale, where he rode clear of Gall again and doubled his stage tally.
Pila made it three.
After 4,200 metres of climbing in just 133 kilometres, Vingegaard still had enough left to attack on the final climb, go solo and take both the stage and the race lead. It was his strongest performance of the Giro so far, but the finish line told a familiar story too.
Because once again, Vingegaard had time to celebrate in his own way.
Kissing the handlebars
The gesture that stands out most to the eye is the kiss on the bars. Why kiss the bars? The answer is not hidden in the bike, but on it.
Fixed to the handlebars is a photo of his family: his wife Trine Marie Hansen, his daughter Frida and his son Hugo. He has done it before. Earlier this season, at Paris-Nice, Vingegaard rode with a family photo on his bars too, turning a finish line celebration into something more intimate.
After his win on Corno alle Scale, he explained the gesture:
“I do it for the right reason,” he said to Sporza. “There is a photo of my family on there. They give me extra motivation and energy to win
And then there is a third ritual that often follows a Jonas Vingegaard victory: the phone call home.
Whenever he can, Vingegaard reaches for a phone almost immediately after the finish, calling his wife so he can speak to his family before the noise of the podium, the press and the post race routine takes over.
The image is familiar. Many will remember the footage from the 2022 Tour de France stage to the Col du Granon, where Vingegaard seized control of the race and Tadej Pogačar later came over to congratulate him while the Dane was already on the phone. After the Blockhaus stage, too, Vingegaard was quickly seen with a phone to his ear.
It has occasionally drawn criticism, with some seeing it as disrespectful to rivals or teammates who come over to share a moment after the stage. But for Vingegaard, the logic seems simple.
Before the cameras, before the handshakes, before the ceremony, there is home. Family first.
