With the 2026 Tour de France set to begin in Barcelona on July 4th, Visma – Lease a Bike has revealed the lineup that will support Jonas Vingegaard in his quest for a third victory. This highly anticipated race sees Vingegaard aiming to challenge Tadej Pogačar, who is the favorite for what could be his fifth Tour de France title, equaling a legendary record.
Vingegaard, the reigning champion from 2022 and 2023, will be joined by Victor Campenaerts, Edoardo Affini, Per Strand Hagenes, Matteo Jorgenson, Sepp Kuss, Bruno Armirail, and Davide Piganzoli. The team announced this selection on Tuesday. Notably absent from the Tour for the first time in eight years is Wout van Aert, who is sidelined due to a persistent elbow injury that has become infected.
Visma’s head coach, Marc Reef, stated clearly, “Our objective is very clear, especially when we have Jonas: we want to win the Tour de France.” Vingegaard is coming off a dominant performance in the Giro d’Italia, which he won by over five minutes. However, Pogačar also showcased remarkable form by winning the Tour de Suisse with a six-and-a-half-minute lead, securing three out of five stages and setting a new record for the 67-year-old event.
Adding to the narrative, CyclingWeekly reports that Pogačar will be the fresher of the two contenders, having competed in only 16 race days prior to the 2026 Tour de France, securing 13 victories. In contrast, Vingegaard will have ridden 36 days in 2026, largely due to his participation in the Giro d’Italia.
The competitive landscape is intense, with CyclingWeekly suggesting the Tour “could see a level of dominance not witnessed in decades.” They draw a parallel to Eddy Merckx’s fifth Tour de France win in 1974, which was preceded by his first Tour de Suisse victory. Despite the formidable competition, the Visma-Lease a Bike team is confident in Vingegaard and his squad’s ability to contend fiercely for another Tour de France title for the Danish rider.