Within the wake of the early GC skirmish on the slopes of San Luca in Bologna, Visma-Lease a Bike have been left ecstatic with the resurgent show of Jonas Vingegaard as he went toe to toe with Tadej Pogačar for the primary time at this 12 months’s Tour de France.
The Slovenian pulled on the yellow jersey on the finish of stage two, however the day undoubtedly belonged to Vingegaard after he impressively adopted each violent acceleration from Pogačar on the steep ultimate climb.
Pogačar misplaced yellow to Richard Caparaz (EF Schooling-EasyPost) on stage three on depend again, and the GC battle will resume on stage 4 when the riders enter the excessive mountains for the primary time at this 12 months’s race. The fearsome Col du Galibier options on the tail finish of the 139km trip into the Alps earlier than a protracted and quick descent into Valloire.
After witnessing Vingegaard’s stoic show on San Luca, Visma-Lease a Bike’s sports activities director, Merijn Zeeman believes the Galibier will present one other reply as as to whether Vingegaard can certainly final the space and problem Pogačar for victory in Good in three weeks time.
Talking to Biking Weekly in Piacenza earlier than stage three, gained by Biniam Girmay in Turin, Zeeman mentioned: “I feel it is going to be tremendous quick on the Galibier. Then it’s not a lot all the way down to ways for us, it’s simply to attempt to observe and see who shall be first on high and if a small group varieties earlier than the descent to Valloire.
“Yesterday was above expectations, so hopefully we are able to see extra within the excessive mountains. Tomorrow we’ll get one other reply on Jonas’ form I might say.”
Primož Roglič was one in every of a number of GC riders to endure an early time loss on the second stage. Zeeman mentioned that he expects additional time losses because the race reaches excessive altitude.
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“There’s at all times on the primary mountain stage some GC guys cracking,” he added. “Possibly they will come again within the final week, however tomorrow there shall be onerous racing. All the fellows have to ship, however I am certain among the guys can have a really onerous day.
“It has been an odd begin to the Tour. Now what we had this weekend with the warmth then Valloire shall be a lot colder, with far longer efforts as nicely.”
(Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Earlier than the Tour started, Pogačar mentioned he had suffered a late setback resulting from a final minute Covid an infection. Nonetheless, the UAE Emirates rider’s setback was minor in comparison with Vingegaard’s accidents sustained within the spring in his horrible crash at Itzulia Basque Nation. The Dane suffered a punctured lung, damaged collarbone and several other damaged ribs and spent weeks in rehabilitation with the purpose of creating it to the Tour.
After being named within the Visma-Lease a Bike line-up, Vingegaard’s capacity to problem at this 12 months’s race was questioned by many. However the defending champion silenced loads of doubters with stage two’s resilient show.
Vingegaard mentioned post-stage that he had stunned himself on a stage that he feared, and Zeeman shared the identical feelings after the Dane’s prolonged layoff from competitors. The Grand Départ in Florence was the Dane’s first aggressive race day since Itzulia.
Zeeman mentioned: “It gave an enormous increase to the crew. Should you can see him performing nicely it makes everybody very comfortable. We’ve got very excellent coaches. I feel Tim Heemskerk, his efficiency coach, did an excellent tremendous job.
“After all it is the dedication of Jonas and that he put all the things to 1 aspect to be right here so he deserves essentially the most credit score. However I feel Tim, Martijn Redegeld [team nutritionist], Mathieu Heijboer [head of performance] and all the fellows that did the rehab with him deserve numerous credit score as they did a improbable job.
“It offers the crew numerous confidence. It was an enormous increase for us and Jonas.”
