Visma-Lease a Bike used their mixed energy and a few defensive however environment friendly techniques to keep away from dropping any time to Tadej Pogačar and another total rivals in the course of the gravel stage 9 of the Tour de France close to Troyes.
The Dutch staff has dominated the Tour de France and Grand Tour racing in recent times however is following a special technique in 2024, the place defence is healthier than assault, and Pogačar is by far the most important risk.
Jonas Vingegaard suffered severe accidents within the Itzulia Basque Nation crash in early April and has solely educated for six weeks. Visma-Lease a Bike’s technique is to restrict Vingegaard’s time losses to Pogačar in any manner they’ll, within the hope that Vingegaard will come good within the closing week of the Tour within the excessive mountain.
After profitable the Giro d’Italia, Pogačar is taking part in an reverse technique and attempting to achieve time on his GC rivals every time he can, maybe earlier than the fatigue of racing two Grand Excursions begins to harm him. It’s creating an epic battle.
Vingegaard misplaced 50 seconds on the stage over the Galibier to Valloire after which 25 seconds within the Cote d’Or time trial. The Dane is 1:15 down on Pogačar within the GC standings, with Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) between them at 33 seconds and Primož Roglič (Crimson Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) fourth at 1:36.
On the gravel roads, Pogačar tried to surge away a number of occasions.
With 77km to race, he joined Evenepoel, with Vingegaard on his wheel. Nevertheless, the Dane refused to collaborate, and the trio finally eased up in a sport of bluff and returned to the GC group.
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Pogačar then made an enormous effort and double assault on the Daudes gravel sector with 21km to go. Vingegaard struggled and was barely distanced as Christophe Laporte tried to observe Pogačar, solely to explode. Happily, like some sort of Superhero determine rising from nowhere to avoid wasting the day, Matteo Jorgenson appeared and dragged Vingegaard as much as Pogačar’s wheel.
Evenepoel and Roglič have been dropped, and it was an enormous second within the GC battle. Nevertheless, Vingegaard and Jorgenson determined or have been ordered from their staff automobile, to not work with Pogačar. Visma-Lease a Bike had riders within the group and so there was no must threat going with Pogačar, solely to be distanced close to the end.
It was a logical however defensive tactic and all of the big-four Tour de France contenders completed collectively in Troyes.
“The rival of the Tour is Pogačar,” Jorgenson defined post-stage.
“We weren’t going to experience with Pogcar on our wheel and have Wout Van Artwork and Christophe Laporte behind us. That was not sensible in any respect. We needed to play it sensible.”
Vingegaard agreed on the defensive technique.
“He was driving so quick himself, we didn’t give it some thought,” Vingegaard mentioned. “We thought it was higher for us to have extra teammates in case one thing occurred.
“It will have been higher to experience as a result of Primož and Remco weren’t there, however alternatively, our objective was to not lose time, so possibly it was higher to attend.”
Jorgenson praised his staff chief for his calm after swapping bikes with Jan Tratnik mid-stage and for racing with logic all the best way to the end. Additionally, for his skill to tackle greater and extra aggressive riders on the French gravel.
“He was doing unbelievable for the scenario. He did an unbelievable job, I’m happy with him,” Jorgenson.
“He was driving with a special place, totally different bars and a special attain. It was spectacular. He’s simply so gentle too, he’s not suited to gravel however he did it.”
Visma-Lease a Bike used their staff energy to dominate the racing on the gravel and maintain Pogačar underneath management.
“It wasn’t that demanding as a result of we had the strongest staff for this stage,” Jorgenson argued.
“We have been on the entrance of each single gravel sector, and we had confidence that we may get ourselves out of any drawback.”
Jorgenson joined Visma-Lease a Bike for the 2024 season and instantly confirmed his skills by profitable Paris-Good. On the Tour de France gravel, he stored Vingegaard’s total hopes alive.
“Matteo did some unbelievable work for Jonas and we’re so joyful to have him within the staff,” senior directeur sportif Merijn Zeeman mentioned.
“When Pogačar attacked, he performed for a second after which closed the hole. That was excellent. Pogačar was unbelievable, and we want the entire staff to regulate him and gradual him down.”
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