Vingegaard Returns to Racing at Paris-Nice After Disrupted Start to 2026 Season
Two-time Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard will make his 2026 racing debut at Paris-Nice next week, after a crash and subsequent illness forced him to alter his initial season plans. The Danish cyclist, representing Visma-Lease a Bike, was originally slated to initiate his campaign at the UAE Tour.
“I am excited to be at the start of Paris-Nice once again. It is a prestigious race with a lot of history,” Vingegaard said on Monday Cyclingnews. “As a team, we have a title to defend here. After crashing and falling ill, I took the necessary time to recover. Now I feel ready to start racing again and am looking forward to it after a long winter of training.”
Crash and Illness Disrupt Preparations
Vingegaard’s preparation for the 2026 season was derailed by a training crash involving a fan, followed by illness. This prompted a change in schedule, with Paris-Nice – a race Visma-Lease a Bike has won for the past two years with Matteo Jorgenson – now taking precedence. Jorgenson will not defend his title, instead focusing on the Classics Cyclingnews.
Ambitious Season Ahead: Giro-Tour Double Attempt
The shift to Paris-Nice is part of a larger plan for Vingegaard, who is aiming for a challenging Giro d’Italia and Tour de France double this year. His team is aware of the risks involved, especially given his recent setbacks. Any further health issues or crashes could jeopardize his chances against rivals like Tadej Pogačar Outside Online.
Vingegaard’s disrupted start echoes previous turbulent springs, including a crash at the Itzulia Basque Country in 2024 and a concussion at Paris-Nice last March, both of which impacted his Tour de France preparations Outside Online.
Focus on Recovery and Race Rhythm
For Vingegaard, the primary goal at Paris-Nice is to regain race rhythm and avoid further incidents before embarking on his ambitious grand tour schedule. He needs to be at peak condition to challenge for both the pink jersey at the Giro and the yellow jersey at the Tour Outside Online.
Pogačar, meanwhile, will begin his season at Strade Bianche, meaning the two cycling stars won’t directly compete until the Tour de France Outside Online.