Jonas Vingegaard fears bodyguards may be needed in the future

Recently, there has been a lot of discussion about amateur cyclists bothering pros during their training rides. The debate was sparked after a training incident involving Jonas Vingegaard. The Dane himself fears a scenario where riders might need to enlist the help of bodyguards.

Jonas Vingegaard’s crash during a training ride was accompanied by reports of amateur cyclists following him and wanting to ride alongside him. On social media, it is becoming increasingly common to see a training group of professional cyclists being followed by several non-pro riders. Visma | Lease a Bike – Vingegaard’s team – took the opportunity to address amateur cyclists and bike tourists.

Boundary
In the lead-up to Paris-Nice, Vingegaard revisited the training incident from January. “For me, it feels a bit like a boundary is being crossed when people follow me like that during training,” he said in an interview with TV2. “Maybe he knows who I am, but we don’t know each other. The fact that he stays in my wheel feels a bit uncomfortable.”

The Dane emphasized that he has no issue with fans approaching him respectfully. “I don’t mind at all if people ask for a photo. That’s fine. But following me constantly is something else. I have to constantly be aware of the rider behind me. If I suddenly brake, it can cause a crash. So I have to constantly account for someone else’s presence.”

According to the two-time Tour winner, the problem is particularly noticeable during training rides abroad, where popular cycling destinations attract many amateur riders. To prevent dangerous situations, teams like UAE Emirates XRG – Tadej Pogacar’s squad – have already taken measures. Vingegaard has also considered potential next steps.

“We need to protect ourselves”
“Just after the crash, I thought to myself: if this continues and gets worse, something really has to be done. Riders might need to start training with a motorbike escort or a personal bodyguard to keep people from getting too close. We have to protect ourselves. But if it comes to that, the sport of cycling will change drastically.”