While Visma-Lease a Bike nonetheless received’t verify whether or not Jonas Vingegaard might be again at this 12 months’s Tour de France after his horror crash at Itzulia Basque Country, 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 current weeks, returning to driving open air, then heading to hillier Spanish terrain and now venturing as much as altitude in Tignes.
But 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 until he’s 100%.
However, 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 are hopeful that Jonas [VIngegaard] might be slot in 4 weeks’ time however there isn’t any information on that,” mentioned 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 crew and even with out Jonas, we can do a extremely good Tour de France.”
However, Niermann was adamant that the present hope is to have Vingegaard begin and battle for the win towards Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates), because the Slovenian makes an attempt to finish the Giro-Tour double for the primary time since 1998.
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“The confidence is in Jonas [Vingegaard] and Jonas is the man that may win the race,” mentioned Niermann exterior the crew bus.
“If he can’t experience then now we have to make new plans and that would embrace Sepp [Kuss] and Matteo [Jorgenson].”
Kuss is the latest winner of the Vuelta a España and Jorgenson has reached new heights in 2024 since becoming a member of the Dutch crew, netting the general win at Paris-Nice and discovering one-day success at Dwars door Vlaanderen.
And, regardless of Niermann’s unwillingness to place any strain on the pair for the Tour, with an extended 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 are in good type. Sepp [Kuss] had a number of days final week when he was not 100% feeling match however the actually arduous days are nonetheless distant so we’re hopeful that they are going to do properly,” Niermann mentioned.
“And at the very least that they had a great preparation. Of course, 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 usA. 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 bought collectively and it is very nice having an American within the crew,” Jorgenson advised 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 strain of co-leading the squad in Vingegaard’s absence both, however conceded that the problem can be very troublesome to return out on high of regardless of his earlier French stage race success within the Race to the Sun.
“No truly I feel having Sepp right here with me, I feel we are able to sort of share the load a bit and I don’t really feel a lot strain. I simply wish to do my finest,” mentioned Jorgenson.
“It might be troublesome anyway [to win], it was troublesome at Paris-Nice. I feel it’s a good course, however the weekend might be an enormous problem within the final 3 days.” The American in fact 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 determine the general winner because the respective finishes on levels 6-8 and can set aside these in the perfect form forward of the Tour. But Jorgenson sees these days extra in favour of Grand Tour winner Kuss.
“I feel Sepp and I’ve actually completely 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’m simply wanting ahead to giving it a go and seeing the place we find yourself.”
Kuss was very calm at the beginning 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 can’t come into the Dauphine not in good condition but it surely’s a great race to get a really feel for the sort of racing you’ll have within the Tour after which nonetheless have time afterwards to regulate the coaching,” Kuss mentioned into FloBikes’ microphone.
“It’s an necessary race for positive. I haven’t raced shortly. But I feel I really feel fairly good.
“Of course, there’s a very long time trial however there’s additionally some arduous mountains stage so we’ll simply see the way it goes every day and I’m wanting ahead to the weekend specifically.”