Jonas Vingegaard reveals how close he came to quitting professional cycling in 2025 - 'I wasn't happy'
Updated 13/07/2026 at 17:44 GMT+1
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Visma-Lease a Bike's star rider, Jonas Vingegaard, has made a shock admission in the middle of the 2026 Tour de France, revealing he was close to walking away from pro cycling last year due to the relentless nature of competing at the highest level.
Highlights: Van der Poel storms to Stage 9 triumph as Pidcock hit with mechanical issues
Video credit: TNT Sports
Vingegaard is one of the sport's biggest names and is considered a modern-day great.
The 29-year-old completed the Triple Crown of cycling in May, adding the Giro d'Italia to his collection of general classification triumphs which include two Tour de France crowns and the 2025 La Vuelta a Espana title.
However, in an interview with Danish broadcaster TV2, he admitted the demands started to become too much for him in 2025, to the point that he was considering quitting the sport altogether.
"I said last year that if this was how it was going to be, I couldn't be in it any more," said Vingegaard.
"That's also why we changed some things. I also think the team realised that this was how it was, and they could also tell from me that I wasn't happy last year. They accepted that we had to change something, and we did."
A more personalised training schedule with fewer altitude camps appears to be paying dividends, with maiden wins at Paris-Nice and the Volta a Catalunya giving the Dane the perfect preparation for his win at the Giro.
But Vingegaard faces an uphill battle in the 2026 edition of the Tour, trailing rival Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) by 2'42" by the time the first rest day rolled around.
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After the conclusion of Stage 9, Pogacar suggested that he would change the whole cycling calendar due to soaring temperatures, while Vingegaard revealed the extent of the physical and mental toll the sport has on its athletes.
"As a cyclist, you feel like you're constantly on a diet," said Vingegaard. "You always have to think about your weight, and you're always out training. A lot is demanded of you. It takes a toll on your body and your mind."
Customising his 2026 programme to minimise time spent away from family and remedy a lopsided work-life balance has put Vingegaard in a healthier place to challenge for the greatest honours.
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Watch Vingegaard's best moments as Dane claims Giro crown
Video credit: TNT Sports
But he has admitted there was still work to do before the sport became "sustainable" again.
"We have taken a step in the right direction, but it is clear that it is only a step," said Vingegaard.
"I think that, in general, you should look at it more individually, what suits the individual rider best.
"In order for cycling to become a sustainable sport again, it is probably more the direction to go that you create individual programmes for all riders.
"If it is hard to be away for such a long time, then you have to do something else, and that is what we have done for me this year."
The changes seem to have resulted in a more content Vingegaard, who noted that he is "much more" motivated this season, adding: "And I'm much happier being a cyclist."
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