Jonas Vingegaard is already again in coaching and his Visma-Lease a Bike are already engaged on easy methods to tackle Tadej Pogačar on the subsequent Tour de France, understanding they’ve a number of work to do in the event that they hope to defeat the Slovenian and win the Tour.
The Dane hasn’t raced since profitable the Tour de Pologne on August 18. He turned a father for a second time quickly after, however has saved a low profile. His horrible crash on the Itzulia Basque Nation race in April and his severe accidents meant he solely raced for 44 days in 2024.
Vingegaard suffered a punctured lung, damaged ribs and a damaged collarbone, compromising his preparation for the Tour de France. He tried to tackle Pogačar however finally completed 6:17 behind in Good. He was left bodily and mentally drained.
Whereas most riders, together with Pogačar, are having fun with their low season holidays, Vingegaard is already again within the saddle, laying down a brand new base for 2025 and Visma-Lease a Bike are engaged on easy methods to shut the hole on their greatest rival.
“He had a protracted break, his final race was the Tour de Pologne in August after which he turned a father. He is began coaching and increase for subsequent yr,” stated Grischa Niermann, who’s now the pinnacle of racing at Visma-Lease a Bike after Merijn Zeeman left to work in soccer.
“I feel that is regular and within the subsequent week, we’ll make a very good plan and see precisely what his 2025 season will appear like.”
The Tour de France needs to be central to Vingegaard’s 2025 season. Nonetheless using the Giro d’Italia beforehand, might be an possibility, to assist Vingegaard return to his finest for July.
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“We’ve got to resolve however we received the Tour de France twice and never this yr, so usually it’s going to be his first goal. We’ve got not determined but but it surely’s more than likely.
“The Giro-Tour is an possibility, we noticed that Tadej Pogačar did it this yr. There’s additionally the Tour-Vuelta, or simply the Tour, we have to resolve.”
2025 Tour
Vingegaard, like Pogačar and most different big-name total contenders, was not on the presentation of the 2025 Tour de France route.
Niermann and Visma-Lease a Bike crew supervisor Richard Plugge watched the route presentation from the Paris Palais des Congrès and appreciated what they noticed. The primary week in northern France might be a take a look at of nerves and bike expertise for Vingegaad however the quite a few mountain high finishes and excessive mountains swimsuit him properly. They may now start to work on the Visma-Lease a Bike technique for 2025.
“We prefer it and it appears to be like actually good for Jonas,” Niermann stated.
“I feel it is a very good parcours, I feel it is a very arduous Tour de France, particularly within the second half. There are some good climbs and good phases, the place Jonas has actually good reminiscences, these with 5000m of climbing, just like the stage to the Col de la Loze.
“Now we’ve to do our homework to shut the hole that was there this yr. We all know that Jonas with regular preparation and with out the crash, could be a lot higher than this yr. However there’s additionally a giant hole with Pogačar, so we’ve a number of work to do. We’re optimistic that it is potential however Pogačar would be the man to beat.”
Directeur Sportif Frans Maassen is properly conscious of the work Vimsa-Lease a Bike must do and the advance they should discover to problem Pogačar.
“Pogačar is just the most effective. It’s as much as the remainder of the peloton to look to cut back the hole. We must do every thing with all the opposite groups to beat him. Hopefully the hole will probably be a bit smaller once more subsequent yr,” he lately informed Wielerflits.
“They name him the brand new Eddy Merckx. I by no means noticed Eddy do his factor however what Pogačar does is phenomenal. However two years in the past we may beat him in crucial race of the season, why wouldn’t that be potential now?
“He’s at present very unreachable, however Jonas at his perfect ought to be capable to compete with him. This yr it didn’t go precisely as we wished with our leaders, that they had some severe crashes. However with a very good winter and good preparation for the approaching season it will likely be totally different.”
