Vingegaard rejects Visma’s ‘robotic’ label - ‘We follow our instincts’

In a candid appearance on Team Visma | Lease a Bike’s Inside the Beehive podcast, Jonas Vingegaard reflected on a 2025 season defined by recovery from injury, front‑foot tactics and an improvised victory ceremony that became one of his most memorable.

Vingegaard offered a full account of a campaign that began with victory at the Volta ao Algarve, was reshaped by a crash at Paris-Nice, built through the Critérium du Dauphiné and the Tour de France, where he finished second, and culminated with three stage wins and the overall title at the Vuelta a España.

He cast the year as a step back to his true level after a heavy crash at the Itzulia Basque Country in 2024. The Tour, he said, was his clearest sign that the long rehabilitation had worked. “The Tour was maybe the first time since my crash in 2024 that I was back on more or less the same power numbers. It took a long time to get there. It was a major crash and set me back more than I thought," said Vingegaard on the Visma | Lease a Bike Inside the Beehive podcast.

Following the Volta ao Algarve, the Paris-Nice incident prompted a reset. Rather than chase racing days, he and the team opted for recovery and structured training with July in mind, making the Dauphiné the first checkpoint. “It was not a big injury. I was off the bike for about a week, then we decided to focus on the Tour. At the Dauphiné, I felt pretty OK. I knew I could step up again for the Tour.”

Visma chose an assertive approach in France, looking to force openings and apply pressure early. Vingegaard enjoyed the licence to race on feel, even if hindsight invites second-guessing. 

“We wanted to race aggressively to put pressure on. Maybe in hindsight, we could have done something different, but it is always easy to be smart afterwards. I liked it, more on feeling, more aggressive. You do not need to race like that always, but for once it was nice to try.” 

He finished six minutes clear of third but accepted that the strongest rider won. “I still believed I could win after a few bad days made a big difference, but in the end, the best guy won. That should give us motivation for next year.”

Wout van Aert’s win on the final stage provided a lift, given their shared crash history in 2024. “Both of us had a major crash at the same time, and maybe we have both struggled a little since. It was really nice to see him winning again. It gave me motivation towards the Vuelta.”

The Vuelta plan was to be selective on a route packed with uphill finishes. Strong sensations early led to opportunism, notably on stage nine, where he gained significant time. Illness after the first rest day forced a switch in strategy from attack to defence. 

“We knew there were so many uphill finishes you could burn yourself if you went for all of them. We targeted stage hunting towards the end, but when opportunities came early, I took them. The days you feel good, you have to take advantage.” 

He added that adaptability became essential once sickness struck. “On stage 13 to the Angliru I wanted to win, but halfway I had to change from attacking to defending.”

He rejected the idea that Visma are rigid. “People say we are robotic. I think we showed we follow our instincts. If one day I feel great, I go for the stage. Sometimes you do not need a plan, but you do need courage.”

Form returned in week three, and he secured the overall on the Bola del Mundo. With the official podium cancelled, the team staged a car park celebration atop a stack of coolers. “I came back to the hotel disappointed. I took some crisps and a beer and sat in the back of the bus. Then someone said we are working on a celebration in the car park. It became one of the most memorable podium ceremonies I have had. It was more intimate. I just had to be careful not to fall off the cooler.”

A brief tilt at the European Championships confirmed he needed deeper rest. He stepped back, spent time with family and travelled to Japan for a criterium and sightseeing, enjoying rare anonymity. Training has resumed ahead of the December camp. “It gives motivation for next year,” he concluded.