Jonas Vingegaard triumphs at Saitama Criterium

In a fitting crescendo to a roller-coaster 2025 campaign, Jonas Vingegaard powered to victory at the Tour de France Saitama Criterium, the city’s annual post-season spectacle held on Sunday. The 28-year-old Dane crossed the line solo after a decisive attack in the final laps, leaving rival sprinters in his wake and closing the year with a clear message: he is back.

A comeback year reaches its peak

Just twelve months ago, Vingegaard was recovering from a high-speed crash that left him with a punctured lung and multiple fractures. What followed was months of rehabilitation and uncertainty about whether he could ever return to his prior form. 

This year, he did more than return: he took the overall win at the Vuelta a España and finished runner-up in the Tour de France. His Saitama triumph offers tangible proof of his regained sharpness. “You never really know if you’ll get back to the same level after a crash like that,” he admitted. “It’s only now … that I can see I’m able to push in the same way again.”

The race that sealed it

The Saitama course featured a 3.5-kilometre loop on the outskirts of Tokyo, with 17 laps covering 59.5 km. On a damp day, the conditions were tricky—it rained during the race, stretching the peloton and adding risk to every corner.

Mid-race, Vingegaard had a scare: a slip saw him crash, but he remounted quickly and rejoined the bunch unhurt. “I just slipped … but I wasn’t hurt anywhere, so I was able to get back on quickly,” he said afterward.

With roughly two kilometres to go, Vingegaard and former teammate Primož Roglič broke clear. But there, on the final lap, Vingegaard launched his solo move, accelerating away and carrying enough energy to hold off the charge of the sprinters behind. Italian Jonathan Milan finished second and Australian Kaden Groves third.

What it means

For Vingegaard, the win isn’t just a trophy—it’s a statement. Coming at season’s end, it underlines that the setbacks of 2024 are firmly behind him. He said: “This is a great way to end the season.”

For his team, Visma | Lease a Bike, and his supporters, it’s a morale boost ahead of 2026—especially given the resurgence of form this year. And for the sport in Japan, having one of cycling’s biggest stars finish the year at Saitama reflects the race’s growing prestige. The event, launched in 2013 by the organisers of the Tour de France, is now a key fixture for elite pros and local fans alike.

Looking ahead

What next for Vingegaard? With this win in the books, the focus will shift now to recovery, training and planning for next season. While he may not have captured the Tour de France yellow jersey this year, closing out the season with strength from this performance sets him up well for his next push. In his words: “Slowly you come back to it and hopefully now I can get back to improving rather than trying to get back to the same level.”

In the balancing act of comeback and ambition, Vingegaard has tipped the scales clearly. His victory in Saitama is more than a post-season win—it’s a renewal, a promise and a prelude to more to come.