The day after Paul Lapeira’s victory at the Tour of the Alpes-Maritimes, the Visma | Lease a Bike team confirmed Jonas Vingegaard’s participation in Paris-Nice. The Dane, who was supposed to limit his early season to the Tour of Catalonia, is finally adding the Race to the Sun to his schedule. A decision made after several weeks marked by a crash and illness.
The peloton was not expecting such a quick return. Announced for just one event before spring, the Tour of Catalonia scheduled for March 23-29, Jonas Vingegaard will finally start at Paris-Nice, from March 8-15. The information was made public on Monday by the Visma | Lease a Bike team. This announcement comes a few weeks after withdrawing from the UAE Tour. The race was supposed to mark the start of his season. A training crash, followed by illness, had forced the Danish leader to delay his comeback.
In a message released by the Dutch team, Jonas Vingegaard explained the reasons for this choice: “I am delighted to be starting Paris-Nice again. It is a prestigious race with a lot of history. As a team, we have a title to defend.”
The rider also mentioned the recent weeks: “after my crash and illness, I took the necessary time to recover. I now feel ready to return to racing and I’m looking forward to it after a long winter of training.”
The crash mentioned dates back to January 26. The accident occurred in the Malaga region, in southern Spain, during a training ride. An attempt to drop an amateur cyclist resulted in a crash. An illness then complicated his preparation.
His absence from the UAE Tour changed the original schedule. The plan called for a gradual build-up before an ambitious sequence in spring. The addition of Paris-Nice changes things. The Race to the Sun will serve as a first full-scale test.
An event steeped in history
Jonas Vingegaard knows the race. Two previous participations are already on his record. In 2023, a second-place finish rewarded the week, behind Tadej Pogačar. Last year, a crash on the fifth stage led to an abandonment and a concussion.
In 2025, another abandonment occurred on the morning of the sixth stage, after a crash the day before. Despite this setback, the Dutch team retained the trophy thanks to Matteo Jorgenson, winner for the second consecutive year.
Jonas Vingegaard’s presence opens up the prospect of a third successive victory for Visma | Lease a Bike. The team shows continuity in managing its early season objectives. Defending the title is a central focus of their participation.
Ambitions beyond the Race to the Sun
After Paris-Nice, the schedule includes the Tour of Catalonia from March 23-29. This race will represent another preparatory step. The first major spring objective remains the Giro d’Italia in May. The season will continue with the Tour de France in July.
Jonas Vingegaard already has two victories on the Grand Tour, in 2022 and 2023. The sporting project aims for a Giro-Tour double. An ambition that requires uninterrupted preparation and stabilized physical condition.
Paris-Nice will provide a first indicator. The course, often exposed to wind and mountain splits, demands advanced form by March. The competition looks fierce. Spanish Juan Ayuso and Portuguese João Almeida are among the expected rivals. Not to mention the Cannes native Lenny Martinez who should have a card to play in the mountains.
The announcement of his participation changes the reading of the early season. The training winter gives way to competition sooner than expected. Managing recovery after crash and illness is a central factor.
The context remains particular. Paul Lapeira’s recent victory at the Tour of the Alpes-Maritimes reminded us of the vitality of cycling on the Côte d’Azur roads. Jonas Vingegaard’s arrival at Paris-Nice is part of this regional dynamic.
The Dane’s presence guarantees no outcome. The objective is first to regain the peloton’s rhythm. The result will matter, but the priority remains building up towards the Italian spring and then the French summer.
This 84th edition of Paris-Nice will thus open a new chapter of the season. An eagerly awaited comeback. A full-scale test. Rendez-vous is set for March 8 to assess the form of a leader who is aiming high.
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