From "dual role" for Van Aert to "fit and motivated" Vingegaard: Zeeman lays out Tour de France blueprint

On Thursday, Visma | Lease a Bike officially announced that Wout van Aert and Jonas Vingegaard will be participating in the Tour de France. There had been much speculation about whether and how the team would make it to the start in Florence, but sports director Merijn Zeeman can now provide more details about their ambitions. He did so in conversation with Sporza.

According to Zeeman, it was the Belgian himself who asked to join. "Wout's heart skips a beat when it comes to big events and races. That gives him the motivation to get the best out of himself. For Wout, the Olympics were too far away to focus solely on Paris. He asked us if there was still room on the Tour team. We needed less than a second to think about it. With Wout, you have the great leader of this team in your squad."

"He has a dual role," Zeeman continued. "He has very clearly stated that he wants to make something special happen with the team. Jonas can count on him 100 percent. But a stage win would be a great reward for him and for us for all his work. We will certainly be looking for that. When Wout is there, the bar is raised. He is a dream for any team and makes others better."

Then there is Vingegaard, who has made significant strides in his recovery after the crash in the Tour of the Basque Country. "In recent weeks, we have clearly seen that he is getting fit. Of course, that is still something different than being in form or competitive. But Jonas has worked extremely hard. With a normal preparation – Sierra Nevada, the Dauphiné and Tignes – Jonas would be the top favorite, thanks to his qualities. That traditional lead-up was not achievable this year, but he is very fit and very motivated. That is an incredible achievement."

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"Do we then accept that he is not at the level of 2023, but that he is fit and motivated and really wants to ride the Tour?" Zeeman asked. Asking the question is answering it. "We have let go of the ideal trajectory, but we want him in the Tour because he has put an enormous amount of work into it and because he will undoubtedly be one of the better riders."

Visma | Lease a Bike to "fight hard for the full 3 weeks in France"

The role of Matteo Jorgenson – who will also be going to the Tour, along with Wilco Kelderman, Sepp Kuss, Jan Tratnik, Christophe Laporte and Tiesj Benoot – also requires some clarifications. "If Jonas can't compete for the yellow jersey, it could open the door for Matteo to gain experience in the general classification, but his role depends on Jonas' level. Matteo is currently one of the best riders in the world, but he wants to go to the Tour to help Jonas. Although we can also pull something tactical out of our hat."

It's clear: Visma | Lease a Bike is ready to pick up the gauntlet. "This Tour favors Tadej Pogacar, but with that tough final week, no rider should celebrate his win too early. We will fight hard for the full 3 weeks in France. You can count on that," he concluded his interview with Sporza.