Professional Cyclist Jonas Vingegaard Crashes During Training After Being Followed by Fan
Jonas Vingegaard, the celebrated two-time Tour de France champion, has sustained facial injuries following a crash during a training descent near Málaga, Spain. The incident occurred on Monday and has brought to light the ongoing tensions between professional riders and enthusiastic amateur cyclists who seek to interact with them on public roads.
Team Issues Safety Plea After Vingegaard's Accident
Visma-Lease a Bike, the team of the Danish cyclist, released a statement confirming the crash while emphasising that Vingegaard did not suffer any serious injuries. The team took the opportunity to issue a broader safety reminder to fans.
"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 circumstances of the crash emerged after amateur cyclist Pedro García Fernández posted details on his Strava account. Fernández stated that he had been following Vingegaard during the descent of Fuente la Reina.
In his post, Fernández wrote that Vingegaard "crashed while trying to drop me on the descent" and that, after stopping to check on the rider, Vingegaard "got angry with me for following him down the hill." Fernández expressed confusion over the professional's reaction, noting, "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 Describes Finding Vingegaard with Bleeding Face
Another amateur cyclist, using the Strava username S.Enduro, commented on Fernández's post to describe witnessing the aftermath of the crash. The user claimed to have found Vingegaard by the guardrail with facial injuries.
"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 a perspective on the pressures faced by elite athletes: "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."
Recurring Issue of Amateur Interactions with Pros
This incident is not isolated in the world of professional cycling, where encounters between riders and fans on bikes are increasingly common. Many amateurs attempt to film content or ride alongside their heroes, sometimes leading to dangerous situations.
Just last week, Vingegaard was seen warning amateur cyclist Artem Shcherbyna about a blind corner as Shcherbyna tried to film him during training. In another recent example, Mathieu van der Poel narrowly avoided a serious crash in December after agreeing to a sprint race with amateur Anatole Leboucher.
Vingegaard's Recovery and Upcoming Season
Despite the crash, Vingegaard is expected to recover in time for his season opener at the UAE Tour in mid-February. The Danish champion has already confirmed his participation in this year's Giro d'Italia in May, marking his first appearance in the Italian 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 by winning all three major tours.
The incident near Málaga has sparked a wider conversation about safety, respect, and the boundaries between professional athletes and their supporters on public roads, highlighting the need for mutual understanding in the cycling community.
