Wout van Aert made clear that he wished “to do one thing particular” this summer season on the Tour de France in a telephone name with Visma-Lease a Bike’s sporting director, Merijn Zeeman, which led to him getting a spot on the workforce.
Visma-Lease a Bike revealed on Thursday morning that the Belgian can be a part of the workforce’s squad that travels to Florence subsequent week alongside Jonas Vingegaard.
Van Aert confronted a race in opposition to the clock to return to full health after sustaining a number of fractures in a crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen within the spring.
Zeeman revealed on Thursday that Van Aert known as him and the workforce’s lead sports activities director, Grischa Niermann, to clarify that he was dedicated to their plans to take Vingegaard again to the Tour with the intention of successful a 3rd straight title.
When requested whether or not Van Aert was completely focussed on serving to Vingegaard, Zeeman joked that he hoped for a little bit of controversy amongst the workforce with a purpose to add to the narrative in the Netflix sequence Tour de France:Unchained.
Nonetheless, Zeeman made clear that Van Aert would even be given the licence to go on the assault in pursuit of stage wins and an early yellow jersey, ought to the chance materialise on the highway.
“I hope that we’ll actually get some controversy once more as a result of it is good for the documentary on the finish of the season so we have to create a few of that,” Zeeman joked. “Or perhaps we will resolve it with Belgium and Denmark enjoying in opposition to one another within the European Championships after which it is also solved.
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“Wout known as me and he known as Grischa to say that he was actually motivated to go to the Tour to do one thing particular for the workforce, with the workforce, and this implies being with Jonas preventing for yellow. So like each different 12 months, Wout is the very best helper that Jonas can have. He actually makes a distinction as a rider, as an individual, and as a frontrunner.
“It might be implausible if he may win a stage as effectively as a result of a champion like him actually deserves that.”
“Matteo has an opportunity to win the Tour in his profession as effectively”
(Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Alongside Van Aert and Vingegaard, Matteo Jorgenson was additionally named within the workforce’s lineup. Since his transfer from Movistar, Jorgenson has loved an excellent marketing campaign so far which has included general victory at Paris-Good.
The American additionally received Dwars door Vlaanderen within the spring.
However, Zeeman made clear that regardless of his kind so far, Jorgenson would journey to the race begin in Italy with the primary goal being driving in help of his workforce chief.
“Jonas is the one rider in our workforce at this second who can win the Tour de France,” Zeeman mentioned. “I actually imagine that Matteo Jorgenson will likely be a really excellent rider sooner or later. I believe Matteo has an opportunity to win the Tour in his profession as effectively, however he’s nonetheless creating.”
“I believe if we analyse the WorldTour season so far, Matteo is among the many greatest riders on this planet proper now. It is a outstanding development. He’s a extremely implausible rider to have within the workforce and he’s unimaginable to work with, an actual chief, and he actually makes our workforce stronger.
“You by no means know what occurs within the Tour. However Matteo may be very clear that he’s going to the tour to assist Jonas. The intention may be very clear that he desires to assist the workforce and he’ll assist the workforce by supporting Jonas as greatest as doable.”
