Jonas Vingegaard says Simon Yates retirement a 'big blow' for Visma–Lease a Bike and admits: 'I'm also suffering, it's been too hard for me'

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Visma–Lease a Bike will be without Simon Yates heading into the 2026 season after the Brit announced his retirement from the sport. Jonas Vingegaard gave his thoughts on his former team-mate's decision and outlined his ambitions to follow in Yates' footsteps with a Giro d'Italia win in 2026 as he seeks to complete the set of Grand Tours. Watch this year's Giro live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Giro d'Italia a 'big goal' for Vingegaard in 2026 - 'Needed a bit of a change'

Video credit: TNT Sports

Jonas Vingegaard expressed his admiration for Simon Yates and admitted the 33-year-old's recent retirement is a "big blow" for Visma–Lease a Bike.

Visma will be without one of their key riders in 2026 following Yates's decision to come off the saddle, but Vingegaard acknowledged the reasoning behind Yates' decision.

The Dane, who suffered a serious injury in 2024, said he is "also suffering" with the demands of the sport.

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"Obviously it's a big blow for us that we lose him," he said. "But I really have a lot of respect for Simon. He says 'stop' when he feels that it's enough, and he doesn't have any more to give.

"Obviously, it's a very hard sport, I'm also suffering. I've been suffering for the last few years and it's also something that I've talked with the team about, that it's very hard and it's been too hard for me.

"I think also for Simon, I know his program last year. He's a super good guy and I wish all the best for him in the future."

Vingegaard recovers from tumble to clinch Criterium Saitama victory

Video credit: TNT Sports

Completing Grand Tour set 'a big goal'

On his own ambitions for 2026, Vingegaard outlined his plans to compete at the Giro d'Italia, the only Grand Tour race he is yet to win.

"Last year I won the Vuelta, now I only need the Giro, it's the last one to have won all three of them," he said. "Obviously that's a big goal for me now.

"On the other hand, we believe that it can make me even better in the Tour de France because we've seen in past years that when I've done the Vuelta [a Espana] I've had an even higher level there than in the Tour.

"I needed a bit of a change because I've done the last program for the last five years. It's something I'm extremely motivated about, something I believe in, and I feel like there's new energy within me and the team."

While Vingegaard will now have to do without the help of Yates, he has the full backing of his team-mates as he looks to pursue Giro glory.

"I already started speaking with my team straight after the Vuelta about my program for this year and we had a lot of talks back and forth about what races we want to do," he added. "Straight away I said, 'I want to do the Giro', and I think they could feel I really wanted it.

"They accepted that I wanted to do the Giro and started looking into the data. They also got really excited about it because they could also see that I might even get better for the Tour with doing the Giro.

"It took a while to get the whole program fixed, but we are all really behind the plan and my team-mates are all behind the idea of it."

Visma's Head of Racing, Grischa Niermann, meanwhile, has insisted the priority remains the Tour de France.

On Vingegaard's plans, Niermann said: "Apart from the fact that he has always wanted to do the Giro, we are convinced that racing the Giro will benefit his level in the Tour.

"Of course, we are aiming to win the Giro but the Tour remains our main objective."

Watch and stream the 2026 cycling season - including the Tour de France - live on TNT Sports and discovery+

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