Within the wake of the early GC skirmish on the slopes of San Luca in Bologna, Visma-Lease a Bike had 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 yr’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 closing 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 yr’s race. The fearsome Col du Galibier options on the tail finish of the 139km journey 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 gap and problem Pogačar for victory in Good in three weeks time.
Talking to Biking Weekly in Piacenza earlier than stage three, received by Biniam Girmay in Turin, Zeeman stated: “I believe 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 comply with and see who will likely be first on prime and if a small group kinds earlier than the descent to Valloire.
“Yesterday was above expectations, so hopefully we will see extra within the excessive mountains. Tomorrow we are going to get one other reply on Jonas’ form I might say.”
Primož Roglič was one in all a number of GC riders to endure an early time loss on the second stage. Zeeman stated that he expects additional time losses because the race reaches excessive altitude.
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“There’s all the time on the primary mountain stage some GC guys cracking,” he added. “Perhaps they will come again within the final week, however tomorrow there will likely be onerous racing. All the blokes have to ship, however I am positive a number of the guys could have a really onerous day.
“It has been a wierd begin to the Tour. Now what we had this weekend with the warmth then Valloire will likely be a lot colder, with far longer efforts as effectively.”
(Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Earlier than the Tour started, Pogačar stated he had suffered a late setback as a result of 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 a number of 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 yr’s race was questioned by many. However the defending champion silenced loads of doubters with stage two’s resilient show.
Vingegaard stated post-stage that he had shocked 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 stated: “It gave an enormous enhance to the group. If you happen to can see him performing effectively it makes everybody very comfortable. We’ve got very superb coaches. I believe Tim Heemskerk, his efficiency coach, did an excellent tremendous job.
“After all it is the dedication of Jonas and that he put every little thing to 1 aspect to be right here so he deserves essentially the most credit score. However I believe Tim, Martijn Redegeld [team nutritionist], Mathieu Heijboer [head of performance] and all the blokes that did the rehab with him deserve a variety of credit score as they did a unbelievable job.
“It provides the group a variety of confidence. It was an enormous enhance for us and Jonas.”
