Jonas Vingegaard to miss season debut at UAE Tour through illness and injury, disrupting Giro d'Italia and Tour de France preparation
Published 06/02/2026 at 12:25 GMT
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Jonas Vingegaard will miss his season debut at the UAE Tour through illness and injury. Vingegaard suffered the injury following a training crash involving an incident with an amateur rider. The Dane now has just one race scheduled before his Giro d'Italia debut as he attempts the Giro-Tour de France double. Watch and stream the 2026 cycling season live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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Jonas Vingegaard is set to miss his season debut at the UAE Tour due to illness and injury, further hampering his preparations for the upcoming Grand Tours.
The Visma-Lease a Bike rider suffered a training crash last month after an incident with an amateur rider in Spain.
By missing the UAE Tour - which starts on February 16, live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - Vingegaard is set to race just once before his Giro d’Italia debut, at the Volta a Catalunya.
His team said in a statement: "Jonas Vingegaard will not line up at the start of the UAE Tour later this month after all. A recent crash followed by illness has ruled out his planned participation."
Vingegaard added: "I was really looking forward to returning to the UAE Tour and am therefore disappointed that we have had to make this decision.
"However, the combination of the crash and subsequent illness made it necessary. It is better to fully recover first so that I can then focus on my next goals."
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How will this impact Vingegaard’s season?
Vingegaard is now due to enter the Giro d’Italia-Tour de France double significantly underprepared, but still has the option to shake up his calendar in the wake of this withdrawal.
In contrast, long-time rival Tadej Pogacar will take part in six races in March and April, though he has opted not to race the Giro, having already completed the rare double in 2024.
Generally, Vingegaard does not participate in many races in the first half of the year. He has not ridden in more than three races before June since joining the World Tour.
With both his injuries and illness seemingly minor, it will not affect his participation in the Volta a Catalunya, which starts on March 23 live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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As this is the first time the Dane will attempt the Giro, hoping to become just the eighth male cyclist to win all three Grand Tours, Vingegaard may prefer to focus on training and altitude camps.
If not, he could look to squeeze in the Tirreno-Adriatico two weeks beforehand, which he has participated in twice before in his career.
The 29-year-old is hoping to bridge the gap between himself and Pogacar once more, having finished second to the Slovenian in the last two Tours de France.
Although Vingegaard won La Vuelta for the first time last year, Pogacar did not take part. The Dane is not scheduled to defend his crown this year.
Watch and stream the 2026 cycling season - including the Tour de France in July - live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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