Professional cyclist Jonas Vingegaard has suffered facial injuries following a crash during a training descent in Spain, an incident reportedly triggered by an amateur fan tailing the two-time Tour de France champion. The Visma-Lease a Bike team has since issued a public safety reminder, urging enthusiasts to respect the space of riders during training sessions.
Team Statement Highlights Safety Concerns
In an official statement released after the incident, Visma-Lease a Bike confirmed that Vingegaard crashed on Monday near Málaga but emphasised that he did not sustain any serious injuries. The team stressed the importance of safety for all parties involved.
"Jonas Vingegaard crashed during training on Monday. Fortunately, he is OK and did not sustain any serious injuries," the statement read. "In general, as a team we would like to urge fans on bikes to always put safety first. For both your own and others’ wellbeing, please allow riders to train and give them as much space and peace as possible."
Amateur Cyclist Claims Vingegaard 'Crashed While Trying to Drop Me'
The crash came to light after amateur cyclist Pedro García Fernández posted details on his Strava account, revealing that he had followed Vingegaard down the descent of Fuente la Reina. Fernández claimed that the professional rider "crashed while trying to drop me on the descent" and became angry when confronted afterwards.
Fernández wrote in his post: "You can be a professional, but you can also be humble. He was going fast to drop me and ended up on the ground. I don’t make a living from this, and I’m just an amateur like most people, so I don’t understand his anger as a professional about it."
Witness Account Describes Bleeding Injuries
Another amateur cyclist, using the Strava username S.Enduro, commented on Fernández's post to describe finding Vingegaard at the scene. The witness claimed to have seen the Dane with a bleeding face by the guardrail, suggesting he had hit the ground hard.
"You both passed me coming down, and as I was almost at the last bend, I found Jonas by the guardrail, his face bleeding in two places," the comment read. "He must have hit it hard to drag his face along the ground. I stopped too and asked him if he needed help, and he told me no, to go away, very angry. Now I understand."
The witness added: "It’s clear he’s the professional and responsible for how he goes up or down, but I also think that people like him, who are professionals and have so much at stake, should be given their space and respected. They risk their lives, their salaries, and the livelihoods of many people around them. It seems to me he felt a bit pressured and went down faster than he should have on a road he doesn’t know well."
Recent Incidents Highlight Broader Issue
This event is not isolated, as interactions between professional riders and amateur cyclists have become increasingly common, often driven by attempts to capture video content. Just last week, Vingegaard was seen warning another amateur, Artem Shcherbyna, about a blind corner as Shcherbyna tried to film him during training.
Similarly, Mathieu van der Poel narrowly avoided a serious crash in December after agreeing to a sprint race with amateur Anatole Leboucher. These incidents underscore the growing challenges professionals face when training in public spaces.
Vingegaard's Recovery and Season Plans
Despite the crash, Vingegaard is expected to recover in time for his season opener at the UAE Tour in mid-February. The Dane has already confirmed his participation in this year's Giro d'Italia in May, marking his first appearance in the race.
Vingegaard, who won the Tour de France in 2022 and 2023 and claimed the Vuelta a España title last year, aims to become the first cyclist since Chris Froome in 2018 to achieve a career Grand Tour hat-trick. His ambitions remain undeterred by this training setback.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks involved in professional cycling and the need for mutual respect between athletes and fans on the road.
