Vingegaard fit in time for the Tour: Danish title holder generously supported by impressive Visma | LaB team

The Tour de France team lineup for Visma | Lease a Bike has finally been announced! Key riders Jonas Vingegaard and his crucial teammate Wout van Aert are in shape just in time for the start of La Grande Boucle. After their spring injuries, there was much speculation about whether they’d recover in time for the Tour de France. Fortunately, their race against time has ended successfully: Vingegaard is now set to pursue his third consecutive win starting June 29, as announced by the team on X.

It had long been stated that Vingegaard would only race if he genuinely had a good shot at the overall win. The team’s rehabilitation experts agree that he does. The selection thus holds few surprises. Vingegaard is the team leader, expecting strong support in the mountains from the likes of Sepp Kuss, Wilco Kelderman, and Matteo Jorgenson, who has been exceptionally strong this year.

Zeeman exudes pride ahead of the Tour: "Vingegaard has shown he’s a champion."

Wout van Aert and fellow Belgian Tiesj Benoot are versatile riders capable of handling nearly any terrain. These past few years, we've often seen this dynamic duo leading breakaways. On the flats, Christophe Laporte, along with Jan Tratnik, will do much of the heavy lifting, though they are also capable of tackling considerable climbs. Despite some bad luck for the yellow and black team in 2024, a robust and formidable squad will take to the starting line of the Tour in Florence.

Merijn Zeeman is, of course, very pleased that Vingegaard can participate in the Tour. "I'm extremely proud of Jonas and the support team. He's coming back from a serious injury. In the past weeks, he has shown what a champion he is, both mentally and physically. Of course, I don't yet know how far he can go. We are cautious because he hasn't been able to race and his preparation has been less than ideal, to say the least. But he will be there, healthy and motivated."

Van Aert also beat the race against time. "Like Jonas, Wout has had to deal with a significant physical and mental blow. But once again, Wout has proven himself to be a formidable champion. His class as an athlete and leadership qualities add value to our team. We are glad that Jonas and Wout will be starting, along with an excellent team and also in this unique Renaissance jersey that was unveiled today."

Van Aert will - not according to plan - go in seach of another Tour victory

Wout van Aert was the chosen one to aim for success in the Giro, until of course, fate struck at Dwars door Vlaanderen. The Belgian all-rounder has now turned the page. "I'm really looking forward to the Tour de France. Of course, this wasn't the initial plan, but after my development in the past weeks, I really wanted this and the team agreed. Our main goal is obviously to achieve a top classification with Jonas, and I want to contribute to that with an excellent team."

Merijn Zeeman further summarizes the incredibly strong selection: "Matteo Jorgenson has already become one of the strongest riders on the team this year. Sepp Kuss proved last year that he is a great climber and a leader in his own right with a victory in the Vuelta a España. European champion Christophe Laporte had an unfortunate spring due to injury and illness but has come back into form over the past two months. Tiesj Benoot had an excellent spring, including a podium finish at the Amstel Gold Race. Wilco Kelderman is fit again and will be an important rider in the mountain stages, and Jan Tratnik has already won the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad this year. He was strong in the Giro and will play a significant role in the Tour team with his experience and qualities," says Zeeman.

New renaissance kit to symbolize the resilience of Visma | Lease a Bike

Because of the predominantly yellow color in the kit, Visma | Lease a Bike must find a special jersey for the Tour every year. This year, it will be the jersey dubbed the 'Renaissance kit'. This symbolizes the team's resilience and pushing boundaries, but it's also a tribute to the journey through time that this year's Tour is: Florence is a well-known city from the Renaissance era. The new kit is now prominently featured on the team's channels.

Since the 2021 edition, Visma | Lease a Bike and its predecessor Jumbo-Visma have brought a new kit to the start of each Tour. Usually, these were matte-grey kits, last year it was predominantly a black shirt. The navy blue with subtle yellow tones of the upcoming edition is also a novelty in this respect. Visma | Lease a Bike is heading towards the start of the Tour with pride and commitment, chest out.

Selection Visma | Lease a Bike for the Tour de France 2024

Jonas Vingegaard
Wout van Aert
Christophe Laporte
Sepp Kuss
Wilco Kelderman
Jan Tratnik
Tiesj Benoot
Matteo Jorgenson