Expectations change about Vingegaard in the Tour: from going to win to being competitive

The start of the Tour de France 2024 is approaching and doubts and rumors about the true form of Jonas Vingegaard continue to circulate. The latest statements from Merijn Zeeman explaining that the condition for Vingegaard to start in Florence is that he can show competitiveness only add fuel to the speculation.

Doubts grow about Jonas Vingegaard's condition for the Tour de France 2024

When Jonas Vingegaard began his recovery after his terrible fall during the Itzulia, the first question that came to everyone's mind was whether the Dane would be able to arrive in condition for the start of the Tour de France. Let's remember that the Visma-Lease a Bike cyclist suffered numerous fractures in both his collarbone and ribs, and most seriously, a pneumothorax that left him completely immobilized for several weeks.

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From the beginning, Visma-Lease a Bike stated that the condition for Jonas Vingegaard to participate in the Tour de France 2024 was that the cyclist arrived at the event in a condition to defend his yellow jersey as leader. Now, after several weeks in which the team has been postponing the decision regarding Vingegaard's participation in the Tour, and where photos of the team's concentration in the Alps have been seen, Visma-Lease a Bike's sports director Merijn Zeeman lowers the expectations for Jonas Vingegaard for the Tour, indicating that he will start if he can show competitiveness, without reference to winning the yellow jersey.

Actually, this seems to be the result of the numerous absences that have been plaguing the Dutch team and the difficulties in forming a team of 8 with enough guarantees to be a protagonist in the Tour de France. Not even the presence of Wout van Aert, who already reappeared in competition in the recently held Tour of Norway, would be assured. However, the Tour de France is a different story, and they are still not sure if he can reach the necessary level required for this race.

All these incidents would have led the management of Visma-Lease a Bike to reconsider their goals for the Tour de France, and with lower aspirations, it would also be more likely for Jonas Vingegaard to participate in the Grande Boucle. On the other hand, it cannot be ruled out that all of this is just a way to relieve pressure and mislead rivals. In any case, until the first stages, especially the 4th stage, with a finish in Valloire after climbing the Galibier, we will not resolve the doubt of whether Vingegaard is bluffing or if he has actually not managed to reach the Tour de France with the sufficient level to win his third Tour de France.