Vingegaard and Team Visma | Lease a Bike claim Vuelta a España overall victory after final stage cancelled due to protests
# Vingegaard and Team Visma | Lease a Bike Secure Vuelta a España Title Amidst Protests
In a dramatic turn of events, Jonas Vingegaard and Team Visma | Lease a Bike have clinched the overall victory at the Vuelta a España, marking Vingegaard’s first win at the event and the third Grand Tour of his career. “I’m super proud of this overall win,” said Vingegaard. “It’s been three tough weeks. I felt very strong in the first week and managed to win twice. Afterwards I had a more difficult phase, but luckily I came back during the final weekend. My stage win on Bola del Mundo gave me great satisfaction. It was a beautiful way to crown this Vuelta.”
The final stage, typically an iconic celebration in Madrid, was notably marred by protests that prevented the peloton from entering the city. However, the traditional post-race festivities—group photos and champagne toasts—still took place, albeit without the anticipated flourish. “It’s a pity that such a moment of eternity was taken from us. I was looking forward to celebrating this overall win with my team and the fans,” Vingegaard expressed. “Everyone has the right to protest, but it’s a shame that it has to happen here and prevents us from finishing the race.”
Despite the setback, Vingegaard’s victory adds to Team Visma | Lease a Bike’s impressive record—the team’s fifth overall title in seven years, bringing their total wins to 38 in 2025. Vingegaard’s personal tally now stands at six.
Team Sports Director Jesper Mørkøv commended the athletes’ hard work during the event: “Yesterday we saw a beautiful final mountain stage. We knew UAE Team Emirates would want to make the race hard, but our guys have done an incredible job supporting Jonas these past weeks. He defended the leader’s jersey with conviction and proved once again that he was the strongest rider of this Vuelta. Three stage wins and now the overall: Jonas is a more than deserved winner.”
Richard Plugge, CEO of Team Visma | Lease a Bike, echoed Vingegaard’s sentiments, stating, “Above all, I am very happy with and proud of this overall win. It’s sad that we and the fans were denied a beautiful finale in the heart of Madrid.” He added, “Nowadays, sport is increasingly being used as a platform to address social issues. We must realize that sport is essentially about connection. It can build bridges and foster mutual understanding. But the participants must be protected: they cannot become victims of this societal debate… Otherwise, the very essence of sport as a unifying force is at risk.”
While the celebration may not have unfolded in the traditional manner, Vingegaard and Team Visma | Lease a Bike remain champions in both spirit and record, turning a moment of disappointment into an opportunity for reflection on the broader role of sport in society.
