Tiesj Benoot, teammate of Jonas Vingegaard, was still a bit torn between two thoughts after the ride over the Galibier. The Dane is 3rd at 50 seconds. “That’s what we would have signed for before the Tour”, according to Benoot. But on the Galibier, Vingegaard no longer had bodyguards at his disposal. “They will still support me later in the Tour”, he qualifies.
Last weekend Visma-Lease a Bike was still beating its chest and Jonas Vingegaard should not be dissatisfied after the Galibier. But the ultra-strong block of the past years was not noticeable on the Alpine giant.
Matteo Jorgenson was able to hang on for quite a long time and finished 12th at 2’42”, but there was no trace of the other domestiques in the final.
Still, Tiesj Benoot remains optimistic. “After 4 days, Jonas is 50 seconds behind Tadej (Pogacar): we would have signed for that before the Tour.”
“After last weekend we might have hoped for a bit more today, but we certainly can’t complain. The really tough stages are still to come. The situation is quite good for us.”
The absence of Sepp Kuss in particular is felt. “But where would Jonas have ended up with Sepp?”, Benoot shot back.
“I don’t know if that would have changed much. If UAE is driving, that’s not a problem. Today Sepp wouldn’t have made a difference.”
“Some days he’s worth his weight in gold, you can’t deny that. But now it was man-to-man at the end and Pogacar was the best.”
At the start of the Tour we expected to lose time in the first days. That it only happened today, we can only be satisfied about that.
Jonas Vingegaard
What did Vingegaard himself think? “Losing time is a shame, but at the start of the Tour we expected to lose time in the first days. The fact that it only happened today, we can only be satisfied about that.”
Still, Vingegaard couldn’t ignore the lack of manpower. “Of course it’s nice to have helpers there, but today it was just the way it went. I’m sure my teammates will still support me.”
With the European Championship in mind, Vingegaard concluded: “I could have been 3-0 down already. So this is a small victory.”
Tour de France classification
Related:
Tour de France
date start – finish type ridetotalwinnerleader
1
29/06 Florence – Rimini
206 km
Romain Bardet
2
30/06 Cesenatico – Bologna
199,2 km
Tadej Pogacar
3
01/07 Piacenza – Tour
230,8 km
Richard Carapaz
4
02/07 Pinerolo – Valloire
139,6 km
Tadej Pogacar
5
03/07 Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne – Saint-Vulbas
177,4 km
6
04/07 Macon – Dijon
163,5 km
7
05/07 Nuits-Saint-Georges – Gevrey-Chambertin
25,3 km
8
06/07 Semur-en-Auxois – Colombey-les-Deux-Églises
183,4 km
9
07/07 Troyes – Troyes
199 km
rest day 08/07
10
09/07 Orléans – Saint-Amand-Montrond
187,3 km
11
10/07 Evaux-les-Bains – Le Lioran
211 km
12
11/07 Aurillac – Villeneuve-sur-Lot
203,6 km
13
12/07 Agent – Pau
165,3 km
14
13/07 Pau – Pla d’Adet
151,9 km
15
14/07 Loudenvielle – Beille Plateau
197,7 km
rest day 15/07
16
16/07 Gruissan – Nîmes
188,6 km
17
17/07 Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux – Superdévoluy
177,8 km
18
18/07 Gap – Barcelonnette
179,5 km
19
19/07 Embrun – Island 2000
144,6 km
20
20/07 Nice – Col de la Couillole
132,8 km
21
21/07 Monaco – Nice
33,7 km
2024-07-02 16:18:27
#Small #victory #Jonas #Vingegaard #albeit #isolated #Galibier #finished #Sepp #Kuss
