Jonas Vingegaard Celebrates Vuelta Stage Victory on Daughter’s Birthday

Team Jumbo-Visma rider Jonas Vingegaard achieved a monumental victory on the iconic climb of the Col du Tourmalet during Stage 13 of La Vuelta Ciclista a España. In an emotional display of strength, Vingegaard dedicated his win to his daughter, Frida, who was celebrating her birthday.

“I’m proud and over the moon,” Vingegaard said. “I can’t imagine a better day. My little daughter Frida is celebrating her birthday today. So I wanted to win the stage. I’m sorry I couldn’t be there, but I’m hoping this will more than make up for it. This victory is for her.”

Team Jumbo-Visma dominated the stage, setting the pace from the start and eventually forming an elite group that reached the Col du Tourmalet. Vingegaard launched a powerful attack and rode solo to achieve his maiden Vuelta stage victory. His teammates Sepp Kuss and Primoz Roglic finished second and third, respectively, securing a remarkable 1-2-3 finish for the team.

“We had our sights set on this stage,” Vingegaard explained. “We wanted to gain time on the competition, which we managed to do. Then, finishing first, second, and third makes it really unique. We now have three team members in the top three in the overall standings. It’s perfect in every way. Our goal is to win the Vuelta. At the moment, it looks promising.”

Sports director Marc Reef commended the team’s performance but urged caution. “First of all, my compliments to Robert Gesink. He controlled the pace from the first climb. He was very valuable today. After that, the guys were exceptional. But each stage demands that we remain focused. We still have a long way to go, though we are already in a better place than yesterday. Today’s 1-2-3 is exceptional. We will celebrate that tonight.”

Sepp Kuss retained the red jersey and now leads his teammates Roglic and Vingegaard by over a minute and a half. The team’s collective strength and strategic riding have put them in a favorable position for the rest of the race.

As of now, Team Jumbo-Visma has achieved 58 victories this year, with Vingegaard adding his 14th win of the season. With their strong performance in La Vuelta, the team is well on their way to accomplishing their goal of winning the race.