Whereas Visma-Lease a Bike nonetheless received’t affirm whether or not Jonas Vingegaard can be again at this 12 months’s Tour de France after his horror crash at Itzulia Basque Nation, plan A stays in favour of the Dane who they are saying “is the person who can win the race” even after sustaining a damaged collarbone, ribs and a collapsed lung in April.
Vingegaard has been making constructive steps in latest weeks, returning to using outdoor, then heading to hillier Spanish terrain and now venturing as much as altitude in Tignes.
However the two-time defending Tour winner’s presence to defend his yellow jersey remains to be contact and go, with Visma not desirous to ship him except he’s 100%.
Nevertheless, even with their chief out and Matteo Jorgenson and Sepp Kuss having to step up on the Critérium du Dauphiné to attempt to make it three wins in a row for the Dutch outfit, spirits are nonetheless excessive.
“The morale is nice. We’re hopeful that Jonas [VIngegaard] can be slot in 4 weeks’ time however there isn’t a information on that,” stated Visma DS Grischa Niermann to Cyclingnews after the opening stage in Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule.
“We can’t predict it but however nonetheless, we’re a really, very robust crew and even with out Jonas, we will do a very good Tour de France.”
Nevertheless, Niermann was adamant that the present hope is to have Vingegaard begin and battle for the win towards Tadej Pogačar (UAE Workforce Emirates), because the Slovenian makes an attempt to finish the Giro-Tour double for the primary time since 1998.
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“The boldness is in Jonas [Vingegaard] and Jonas is the man that may win the race,” stated Niermann exterior the crew bus.
“If he can’t trip then we’ve got to make new plans and that might embody Sepp [Kuss] and Matteo [Jorgenson].”
Kuss is the newest winner of the Vuelta a España and Jorgenson has reached new heights in 2024 since becoming a member of the Dutch crew, netting the general win at Paris-Good and discovering one-day success at Dwars door Vlaanderen.
And, regardless of Niermann’s unwillingness to place any stress on the pair for the Tour, with an extended altitude camp within the books earlier than the Dauphiné, the shape is stable heading into the eight-day pre-Tour de France stage race.
“They’re in good kind. Sepp [Kuss] had a number of days final week when he was not 100% feeling match however the actually arduous days are nonetheless far-off so we’re hopeful that they’ll do nicely,” Niermann stated.
“And at the very least they’d an excellent preparation. In fact, that was not the preparation for the Dauphiné however for the Tour de France however they’re wanting good and we’ll see how far they get.”
Kuss and Jorgenson take the reigns in Vingegaard’s absence
Stage 1 was the primary time the proficient duo from the usA. had ridden collectively of their yellow jerseys, with Jorgenson choosing a extra Classics-focused begin to the season, with the 24-year very excited to get caught into the GC problem alongside his compatriot.
“I used to be simply roommates with Sepp [Kuss] for a number of weeks at Sierra [altitude camp] and that was like the primary time we obtained collectively and it is very nice having an American within the crew,” Jorgenson instructed reporters earlier than the beginning.
“Being right here collectively each going for GC is fairly cool. It’s a privilege, I’ve to pinch myself.”
He wasn’t feeling the stress of co-leading the squad in Vingegaard’s absence both, however conceded that the problem can be very troublesome to return out on prime of regardless of his earlier French stage race success within the Race to the Solar.
“No really I feel having Sepp right here with me, I feel we will sort of share the load a bit and I don’t really feel a lot stress. I simply need to do my greatest,” stated Jorgenson.
“Will probably be troublesome anyway [to win], it was troublesome at Paris-Good. I feel it’s a good course, however the weekend can be an enormous problem within the final 3 days.” The American in fact referring to the trio of summit finishes that shut out the racing in France.
The Collet d’Allevard (11.2km at 8.1%), Samoëns 1600 (10km at 9.3%) and Plateau des Glières (9.4km at 7.1%) climbs will resolve the general winner because the respective finishes on phases 6-8 and can set aside these in the very best form forward of the Tour. However Jorgenson sees these days extra in favour of Grand Tour winner Kuss.
“I feel Sepp and I’ve actually completely different traits. He’s actually suited to that weekend and I’m extra suited to the TT and the primary couple of hilltop finishes so I am simply wanting ahead to giving it a go and seeing the place we find yourself.”
Kuss was very calm in the beginning of the day, solely ending his media duties seconds earlier than the countdown to the stage begin started, conscious that right now’s dash day wasn’t one for him and that the hole between the Dauphiné and the Tour leaves room to search out that final little bit of kind.
“You’ll be able to’t come into the Dauphine not in fine condition nevertheless it’s an excellent race to get a really feel for the sort of racing you’ll have within the Tour after which nonetheless have time afterwards to regulate the coaching,” Kuss stated into FloBikes’ microphone.
“It is an essential race for positive. I haven’t raced shortly. However I feel I really feel fairly good.
“In fact, there’s a very long time trial however there’s additionally some arduous mountains stage so we’ll simply see the way it goes every day and I am wanting ahead to the weekend particularly.”
