The Visma-Lease a Bike squad proceed to coach at altitude within the French Alps, with a crew {photograph} sparking additional hypothesis that Jonas Vingegaard and Wout van Aert will trip the 2024 Tour de France.
The Dutch crew has performed down experiences that Vingegaard and Van Aert have totally recovered from their spring crashes, with crew supervisor Richard Plugge repeating that Vinegegaard would solely goal a 3rd consecutive Tour de France if ‘100% match’.
Nevertheless all the things factors to each riders being on the beginning line in Florence on Saturday June 29.
Vingegaard, Van Aert plus teammates Matteo Jorgenson, Jan Tratnik, Christophe Laporte and Tiesj Benoot posed for {a photograph} after one other lengthy day of coaching within the Alps that included dust roads and 5,100 metres of vertical climbing.
The {photograph} seems to point out the core of the Visma-Lease a Bike crew for the Tour de France. The six are anticipated to be joined by the USA’s Sepp Kuss and Wilco Kelderman within the ultimate line-up.
Vingegaard suffered a punctured lung and different accidents within the Itzulia Basque Nation crash in April however has since made a low-profile however regular restoration. He will not be at his absolute best however is predicted to trip the Tour. He’s reportedly set to turn into a father for a second time later this yr and so the Vuelta a Espana will not be set to type a part of his plans.
Van Aert has made the Paris Olympic time trial and highway race a serious aim however after lacking the Giro d’Italia and the crew’s quite a few accidents, he’s additionally more likely to be a part of the Visma-Lease a Bike eight-rider Tour de France squad. He arrived at altitude on June 2, following a coaching schedule for the Tour de France moderately than the Olympics.
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Visma-Lease a Bike might solely title their ultimate line-up subsequent week, simply earlier than travelling to Florence on Wednesday for the Grand Depart, as they proceed to play thoughts video games with main rival Tadej Pogačar and UAE Group Emirates.
Kuss give up the Critérium du Dauphiné earlier than the ultimate mountain stage after struggling throughout the race, with Visma-Lease a Bike saying “Together with his preparation for the Tour de France in thoughts, it was determined to take the mandatory relaxation.”
Nevertheless the American is predicted to play an important function within the mountains but once more, as will new signing Jorgenson after his second place total on the Dauphiné.
Kelderman fractured his collarbone at Paris-Good and missed the Giro d’Italia however is predicted to switch Steven Kruijswijk, who crashed on the Dauphiné, fracturing his pelvis and collarbone. Dylan van Baarle additionally crashed out of the French stage race and is predicted to get replaced by Tratnik. Laporte solely rode every week of the Giro d’Italia however was a part of the 2022 and 2023 Tour successful crew.
Tratnik completed the Giro and is predicted to maneuver to Crimson Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe in 2025 however is taken into account an important domestique.
The altitude camp and particularly the second and third weeks are important assessments for the riders. Van Aert will miss this week’s Belgian time trial championships and solely return residence for Sunday’s highway race.
“For me, it is fifty-fifty whether or not Jonas makes it to the Tour,” Vingegaard’s coach Tim Heemskerk advised Danish newspaper BT final week.
“He wanted to have the ability to comply with the programme if he was to have hopes of being prepared for the Tour,” Heemskerk mentioned. “The primary week at altitude was adaptation and restoration, and now he is simply had a tricky week. And now there will likely be one other one.
“The necessary factor will likely be how he reacts to it. Can he deal with it? Will he get drained? The approaching week and the one after are important for the Tour. It is also necessary that he will get a sense of ‘Wow, I really feel an increasing number of prepared.’”
