The Japan Times - Vuelta triumph caps Vingegaard's fight back from the brink

The wispy Danish climber was two-time defending Tour de France champion when the high speed spill in the Tour of the Basque Country left him with a punctured lung and several broken bones, shaking Vingegaard mentally and physically.

His career dip coincided with his swaggering rival Tadej Pogacar's return to the top, with the Slovenian winning the last two Tour de France titles, also claiming the Giro and world title in 2024.

So adding Sunday's triumph -- despite the final stage being cancelled due to pro-Palestinian protests -- to a runner-up spot in the Tour de France, Vingegaard's 2025 season has taken on a far rosier hue.

With a challenging 2025 Vuelta roster and route, Vingegaard was as measured as he was imperious, taking three stage wins along the way to a victory more comfortable than the final 1min 16sec advantage over Portugal's Joao Almeida suggests.

His achievement also handed Visma Lease-a-bike a second Grand Tour of the year after new signing Simon Yates won the Giro d'Italia earlier this year.

It also gives some credence to Vingegaard's own claim that he was stronger than ever having rebuilt his physique.

"I'm on the highest level that I've ever been," he said when embarking on a 2025 Tour de France where despite two bad days, he finished six minutes clear of third-placed Florian Lipowitz.

"I'm more heavy now than I was last year, but it's muscle and it gives a lot more power," said Vingegaard.

- Simple life -

He has also visibly grown in confidence from the rider who emerged in 2021 when his team leader Primoz Roglic crashed out of the Tour de France, Vingegaard rallying to second place and even dropping Pogacar on a climb during the longest mountain stage.

The next edition started in Denmark where locals united behind the nervous, fidgety young talent who went on to win the Tour by outwitting Pogacar and defending that title in 2023 by outriding his arch rival.

In the 2024 Tour following the crash, Vingegaard finished second, a massive 6min 17sec behind Pogacar, but was also 3min clear of breakout talent Remco Evenepoel.

For the man who grew up in a remote fishing community, watching Liverpool on television and racing along windswept coastal roads, the path has never been simple.

But the simple life with his family, a wife nine years his senior doubling up as his business manager, along with the clear mission strategy of Visma have helped Vingegaard climb back to the top step.

The top step on the Giro podium would appear to be the next target in May 2026.

"I've always said that I'd like to compete in that race. I'm not saying right now that I'll be riding the Giro next year, because we still have to discuss it with the team. We'll see if it happens," he said when the Vuelta began in Torino, Italy almost four weeks ago.

K.Yamaguchi--JT