Plugge largely content with Tour course, but pinpoints one blemish: 'Why are you looking for it?'

Richard Plugge on Wednesday looked at the 2024 Tour de France race route with moderate satisfaction. The Dutch team boss of Jumbo-Visma saw opportunities for his team next year, but also pointed out that the gravel stage around Troyes certainly did not need to be there as far as he was concerned;

At the Palais des Congres in Paris, of all the prominent figures present, Plugge took by far the most time to speak to the global press, including IDL Procycling. In doing so, he immediately confirmed - logically - the participation of two-time winner Jonas Vingegaard. 'The Tour de France is the highest achievable. I also expect Primoz Roglic, Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel to come, so that will be great to see. With Jonas we can go full for a third win,' Plugge said, indicating that the complete plans for 2024 will be announced on Dec. 22.

So Plugge also did not yet want to indicate what the plans are for Wout van Aert, Jumbo-Visma's other superstar. 'We still have to see that too. We've had a great year now, with three big tours. That is going to be hard to match, so we have to see how it will be possible for next season to ride a good Giro, Tour and Vuelta. Who then goes where, apart from Jonas, is something for later.'

Plugge absolutely outraged by gravel stage in Tour de France 2024: 'It can destroy so much'

'It's a beautiful course, but with a small blemish,' the team boss summed up the 2023 Tour route in one. 'And that is those 32 kilometers of gravel. I'm not in favor of that, because the luck factor is brought in tremendously. 'Why do you have to go up gravel again?' he wonders in a slightly raised voice about the ninth stage around Troyes. 'Once we had it on the Col de la Loze for three kilometers, I already thought it was a lot. It can destroy so much,' said the Dutchman. 'Why do you look for it? Be glad there are good paved roads.'

'Otherwise, it is a very nice round, with a tough start, but also spectacular until the end,' Plugge shifted his focus to the stages he does like. 'The last four stages are very tough, so that is going to be beautiful. Anything is still possible," he says.