Jonas Vingegaard admitted he was simply glad to be at first of the Tour de France after his horrible Itzulia Basque Nation crash in early April that left him with a punctured lung and quite a few fractured ribs.
He described the crash, his accidents and his gradual restoration as “in all probability the toughest second of my profession” as he opened up about his crash and the implications for the primary time on the eve of the Tour de France in Florence.
The 2-time Tour de France winner stays the designated chief of the Visma-Lease a Bike staff and is even quietly formidable however he’s additionally real looking about his possibilities of successful a 3rd consecutive Tour de France.
“I am simply glad to be right here at first line of the Tour de France. I believe that is a victory in itself. I am very glad and searching ahead to the race now,” he mentioned, usually repeating his ideas as a defence mechanism to a collection of questions on his bodily and psychological situation.
“I need to go for the very best lead to GC. However to be sincere, it was a really, very dangerous crash, so simply to be right here, I am very glad, and that is a victory in itself. The whole lot from here’s a bonus.”
Vingegaard sat centre stage in the primary council corridor of Florence’s Palazzo Vecchio, occupying the seat normally occupied by the town’s mayor. Wout Van Aert sat to his left and Matteo Jorgenson sat to his proper, already of their roles as protectors and trusted wingmen for the race in opposition to Tadej Pogačar, former teammate Primož Roglič, Remco Evenepoel and lots of others.
Visma-Lease a Bike have misplaced Sepp Kuss resulting from COVID-19 however Jorgenson confirmed he’ll play a help function, whereas Van Aert hopes to focus on stage victories and put together for the Paris Olympics.
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It was famous that Vingegaard didn’t say ‘victory’ when speaking about his Tour de France hopes. There’s a motive.
“To be sincere, I simply do not know,” he mentioned. “We would should battle to hold on early within the race after which later within the race, we’ll discover our regular degree. We’ll discover out within the coming days.”
Vingegaard remoted himself from the media and biking world after his crash, spending two weeks in hospital after which additional time at residence as he started coaching open air. In June he joined his teammates within the French Alps for an altitude coaching camp but it surely was removed from the perfect Tour de France preparation.
“I did a variety of work, a variety of good work, and I am not in a nasty form. However it was such a nasty crash that all the pieces from here’s a bonus. After all, I’ve my hopes that it’s going to occur and we’ll see,” he mentioned.
“I needed to take a protracted break after my crash. I had a variety of accidents that wanted to heal earlier than I used to be in a position to prepare correctly. It is one factor when you can begin using exterior, it is one other factor when you can begin to do correct coaching. It was largely about making it in time for the Tour de France.”
Vingegaard’s spouse and younger daughter once more performed an important function in serving to him return in time for the Tour. They joined him as he headed to the Thursday night staff presentation and can stick with him on the race.
“They’ve been there for me, not solely within the final three months, however for on a regular basis, however particularly within the final three months, it has actually meant all the pieces for me. Now they’re right here with me as effectively,” he mentioned.
“I simply hope that every one the nice work we did collectively will repay. We’ll see within the coming three weeks.”
Vingegaard admitted that he needed to battle the ache as he tried to mix his bodily restoration and coaching for the Tour.
“I believe in that scenario, you simply take into consideration preventing again reasonably than feeling sorry for your self. And that is what I did, and what me and my household have accomplished for the final three months, attempting all the pieces we may to prepare for this race,” he mentioned.
“It is a race meaning lots, not just for me however for the three of us. So I am glad that they’ve stood behind me and that I am right here now on the beginning line.
“After all, if I would not have crashed, I’d positively say I am right here for victory. However issues have modified. I nonetheless have the hope that I am adequate to battle for victory not less than. However I suppose we are going to see within the coming three weeks.”
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