Whereas Visma-Lease a Bike nonetheless received’t affirm whether or not Jonas Vingegaard will likely be again at this yr’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 outside, 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 eager 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] will likely be slot in 4 weeks’ time however there is no such thing as 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 however, we’re a really, very robust group and even with out Jonas, we can do a extremely good Tour de France.”
Nevertheless, Niermann was adamant that the present hope is to have Vingegaard begin and battle for the win in opposition to Tadej Pogačar (UAE Crew 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 group 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 group, 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 a protracted altitude camp within the books earlier than the Dauphiné, the shape is strong heading into the eight-day pre-Tour de France stage race.
“They’re in good type. Sepp [Kuss] had a number of days final week when he was not 100% feeling match however the actually exhausting days are nonetheless distant so we’re hopeful that they may do properly,” Niermann stated.
“And a minimum of that they had preparation. After all, 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 united statesA. 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 acquired collectively and it is very nice having an American within the group,” 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 could be very troublesome to come back out on prime of regardless of his earlier French stage race success within the Race to the Solar.
“No really I believe having Sepp right here with me, I believe we will type of share the load a bit and I don’t really feel a lot stress. I simply need to do my finest,” stated Jorgenson.
“Will probably be troublesome anyway [to win], it was troublesome at Paris-Good. I believe it’s a good course, however the weekend will likely be a giant problem within the final 3 days.” The American after all 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 levels 6-8 and can set aside these in the perfect form forward of the Tour. However Jorgenson sees these days extra in favour of Grand Tour winner Kuss.
“I believe Sepp and I’ve actually totally 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 initially of the day, solely ending his media duties seconds earlier than the countdown to the stage begin started, conscious that in the present day’s dash day wasn’t one for him and that the hole between the Dauphiné and the Tour leaves room to seek out that final little bit of type.
“You may’t come into the Dauphine not in fine condition nevertheless it’s race to get a really feel for the type 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 necessary race for certain. I haven’t raced shortly. However I believe I really feel fairly good.
“After all, there’s a very long time trial however there’s additionally some exhausting mountains stage so we’ll simply see the way it goes every day and I am wanting ahead to the weekend specifically.”
