Jonas Vingegaard facts for kids

Jonas Vingegaard Hansen (born 10 December 1996) is a professional road cyclist from Denmark. He rides for the Visma–Lease a Bike team. Many people think he is one of the best climbers of his time. His exciting competition with fellow cyclist Tadej Pogačar is seen as one of the greatest rivalries ever in cycling. Jonas is most famous for winning the Tour de France two times in a row, in 2022 and 2023.

Jonas Vingegaard did not have much success early in his cycling career. He made his first big race appearance at the 2020 Vuelta a España in 2020. Then, in 2021, he raced in his first Tour de France. He surprised many by finishing second overall in that race.

In 2022, he became a co-captain for his team, Team Jumbo–Visma, for the 2022 Tour de France. During this race, he not only won the overall title (the yellow jersey) but also the polka dot jersey. He was only the second Danish cyclist to win the Tour de France. He also set a record for the fastest average speed in the entire race. In 2023, Vingegaard won the Tour de France general classification for the second time in a row.

Jonas Vingegaard's Cycling Journey

Starting Out in Cycling

Jonas Vingegaard grew up in a place called Thy in Denmark. When he was young, he loved playing both football and handball. One day, when he was a child, he watched a bike race called 2007 Danmark Rundt with his dad. A local cycling club had a special bike set up so people could try riding up a pretend mountain. Jonas tried it and loved it!

After that, he joined the Thy Cykle Ring club and started racing. He rode with them for five years. Later, he joined other clubs like Aalborg Cykle Ring and Odder Cykel Klub. When he first became a senior rider, he found it hard to win races. But when his club started a team for riders under 23 in 2016, his results got much better. He even won a race section where riders had to climb a famous hill many times.

Riding for Team ColoQuick–Cult (2016–2018)

Vingegaard racing in 2017

As Jonas started doing better, a Danish cycling team called ColoQuick–Cult signed him in May 2016. To help him with his daily life, the team manager helped Jonas get a job at a fish factory. Jonas would skin fish from 6 AM to noon, then train in the afternoons. This helped him stay focused and disciplined.

In 2016, when he was 19, Jonas got his first big international result. He finished second in a race called the Tour of China I. This was a great achievement for him.

In 2017, Jonas had a tough year. He broke his leg in a crash during the 2017 Tour des Fjords race. This meant he couldn't race for a long time. Before his injury, he had finished fourth overall in a French race called Tour du Loir-et-Cher. He also won the award for the best young rider in that race.

When he recovered from his broken leg, Jonas came back strong in 2018. He even set a new record on a tough training climb in Spain. Later, experts tested his body at Team Danmark. They said Jonas had an amazing heart and lungs, much better than most other cyclists. This showed he had a natural talent for cycling.

Joining Team Jumbo–Visma (2019–Present)

Jonas joined Team Jumbo–Visma in 2019. That year, he won his first big race stage in the Tour de Pologne. This was a major step up for him.

The next year, in 2020, he finished eighth in the 2020 Tour de Pologne. He also completed his first Grand Tour, the 2020 Vuelta a España. In this race, he worked as a helper (called a domestique) for his teammate Primož Roglič, who ended up winning the race.

A Breakthrough Year in 2021

Vingegaard wearing the white jersey at the 2021 Tour de France

Jonas started 2021 by winning a stage in the 2021 UAE Tour. Then, he won two stages and the overall title in another race called the Settimana Internazionale di Coppi e Bartali. Later, he finished second overall in the 2021 Tour of the Basque Country, right behind his teammate Roglič.

In April, Jonas was chosen to join his team for the 2021 Tour de France. He was meant to help his teammate Roglič, who was expected to win. But on stage 3, Roglič crashed badly. He later had to leave the race because of his injuries. This meant Jonas became the team's main rider for the overall win.

On stage 11, which included two climbs up the famous Mont Ventoux, Jonas attacked. He even managed to drop Tadej Pogačar, who was wearing the yellow jersey. Although Pogačar caught him later, Jonas showed he was a strong climber. He moved up to third place overall. As the race continued, Jonas kept his strong position. On two mountain stages, he finished second behind Pogačar. By the end of the race, Jonas finished in second place overall. He became the second Danish rider ever to reach the podium at the Tour de France.

Winning the Tour de France in 2022

Vingegaard (left) in the maillot jaune riding with Tadej Pogačar at the 2022 Tour de France

Jonas started 2022 in great form. He finished second in the 2022 Tirreno–Adriatico race and sixth in the 2022 Tour of the Basque Country. His team, Jumbo-Visma, was very strong in the 2022 Critérium du Dauphiné. Jonas finished second behind his teammate Roglič and won a tough mountain stage.

He began the 2022 Tour de France feeling strong. On stage 5, his teammate Roglič crashed. Jonas also had a problem with his bike. But his teammates helped him quickly, and he didn't lose much time. In the next stages, he battled with Pogačar, who was the defending champion. Jonas was the only rider who could stay close to Pogačar.

On stage 11, the race went up the tough Col du Granon climb. Jonas's team attacked Pogačar many times. Then, Jonas attacked with 5 kilometers left to climb. He dropped Pogačar and won the stage, taking the yellow jersey! He gained almost three minutes on Pogačar. This was Jonas's first Tour de France stage win. He kept his lead the next day on the famous Alpe d'Huez.

Pogačar tried to attack Jonas many times in the following stages, but Jonas always responded. His team lost two strong riders due to crashes, but his main climbing helper, Sepp Kuss, was in great form. On stage 17, Jonas was the only one who could stay with Pogačar on the final climb. Pogačar won the stage, but Jonas stayed close.

On stage 18, Pogačar crashed, and Jonas showed great sportsmanship by waiting for him to catch up. Then, on the final climb of Hautacam, Jonas attacked again. He dropped Pogačar and won his second stage. He also secured his lead in the Mountains Classification. By this point, his victory in the Tour was almost certain. The battles between Jonas and Pogačar were so intense that they left all other riders far behind. Jonas finished the Tour in Paris, winning his first overall title and setting a record for the highest average speed in the race's history.

Another Tour de France Victory in 2023

Vingegaard in the yellow jersey during the 2023 Tour de France

Jonas started 2023 by winning every stage he raced in the 2023 O Gran Camiño in Spain. He won the overall title and the mountains classification. Next, he raced in 2023 Paris–Nice, finishing third behind Pogačar. He then won the 2023 Tour of the Basque Country, taking three stage wins.

His most important preparation race was the 2023 Critérium du Dauphiné. He won two stages and the overall title by a huge margin, over two minutes ahead of second place. This made him one of the top favorites for the 2023 Tour de France, along with Pogačar.

At the Tour de France, Jonas started strong. On stage 5, he attacked and gained over a minute on Pogačar. He took the yellow jersey on the next stage, with a small lead of 25 seconds. Over the next few mountain stages, Pogačar slowly reduced Jonas's lead to just 9 seconds.

The race changed completely on stage 16, a 22-kilometer time trial. Pogačar rode very fast, but Jonas was even faster. He finished 1 minute and 38 seconds ahead of Pogačar! Jonas said it was "one of my best days on the bike ever." Experts called it one of the most amazing time trial performances in Tour history. The next day, on a high mountain stage, Jonas dropped Pogačar early on the final climb. He finished almost 6 minutes ahead, extending his overall lead to a massive 7 minutes and 35 seconds. Jonas held this lead all the way to Paris, winning the Tour for the second year in a row.

After the Tour, Jonas raced in the 2023 Vuelta a España. He was a co-leader with his teammate Primož Roglič. He won two stages and finished second overall, just 17 seconds behind his teammate Sepp Kuss. This was an amazing result for his team, as they took all three top spots on the podium!

Challenges and Comeback in 2024

Vingegaard at the 2024 Tour of the Basque Country

In 2024, Jonas started his season strong again. He won the overall title, mountains, and points classifications at the 2024 O Gran Camiño. He won every stage except the first time trial. He then won the 2024 Tirreno–Adriatico race, finishing 1 minute and 24 seconds ahead of the second-placed rider. Another cyclist even said, "I think I'm the first human in this race. Hats off to Jonas," meaning Jonas was on another level.

However, Jonas had a serious crash on stage 4 of the 2024 Tour of the Basque Country in April. Many riders were involved, and the race was stopped. Jonas broke his collarbone and several ribs, and also had a punctured lung. He had to go to the hospital. This was his first major accident since winning the Tour de France in 2022.

After his crash, Jonas had surgery on his collarbone and spent weeks recovering. His team said he would only race in the Tour de France if he was "one hundred percent" ready. On June 20, it was confirmed that Jonas would indeed race in the Tour de France, ending weeks of questions about his fitness.

On July 10, Jonas won his fourth career Tour de France stage. He beat his main rival, Tadej Pogačar, in a sprint finish. After his victory, Jonas said, "Three months ago, I really believed I was going to die. Now, sitting here with a stage win in the biggest race in the world, it's incredible." He finished the 2024 Tour in second place.

On August 18, he won the overall title of the 2024 Tour de Pologne. This was his third stage race victory of the season. After this win, Jonas decided to end his 2024 season early. He said he was "tired" and had never been so exhausted after a Grand Tour.

Jonas Vingegaard's Life Off the Bike

Jonas Vingegaard is the son of Claus Christian Rasmussen and Karina Vingegaard Rasmussen. He has a sister named Michelle. For primary school, he went to Hillerslev School. Later, he attended a special sports school focusing on cycling. After that, he studied business in high school.

Jonas is married to Trine Marie Hansen. They met when Jonas was riding for Team ColoQuick, and Trine was the team's marketing manager. In September 2020, they welcomed their daughter, Frida. In September 2024, they had a son. Trine's mother, Rosa Kildahl Christensen, is famous in Denmark for being on a baking TV show called Den store bagedyst.

Jonas Vingegaard's Major Achievements

Top Race Results

Grand Tour Results Timeline

Grand Tour general classification results
Grand Tour	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
Giro d'Italia	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Tour de France	—	—	2	1	1	2
Vuelta a España	—	46	—	—	2	—
Major Stage Race General Classification Results
Race	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
Paris–Nice	—	—	—	—	3	—
Tirreno–Adriatico	—	—	—	2	—	1	—
Volta a Catalunya	—	NH	—	—	—	—
Tour of the Basque Country	32		2	6	1	DNF	—
Tour de Romandie	72		—	—	—	—	—
Critérium du Dauphiné	—	—	51	2	1	—
Tour de Suisse	—	NH	—	—	—	—	—

Awards and Honours

• Danish Sports Name of the Year: 2022
• Vélo d'Or: 2023

Images for kids

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  Vingegaard racing in 2017

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  Vingegaard wearing the white jersey at the 2021 Tour de France

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  Vingegaard (left) in the yellow jersey riding with Tadej Pogačar at the 2022 Tour de France

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  Vingegaard in the yellow jersey during the 2023 Tour de France

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  Vingegaard at the 2024 Tour of the Basque Country

See also

In Spanish: Jonas Vingegaard para niños