Jonas Vingegaard is undoubtedly the person to beat when discussing the Tour de France. The Dane received the 2022 Tour de France earlier than returning a yr later to defend his crown. In 2024, Vingegaard was trying to make it a hat trick of successes, however his participation is now in severe doubt following a crash.
Vingegaard, 27, was the favorite to win the 2024 Tour de France in line with any well-known sports activities betting website. You possibly can see why betting websites, consultants, pundits, and the biking group felt the identical method after back-to-back wins within the race. However the Tour de Basque race didn’t go to plan, with the Visma-Lease a Bike rider fracturing ribs, his collarbone and sustaining a collapsed lung, that means he’s definitely an unlikely winner of this yr’s Tour de France, and that’s even when he makes the start line.
Vingegaard’s crew posted on X, previously Twitter, to verify that their rider and the reigning Tour de France champion had undergone a “profitable operation” and that he would “spend the following few weeks recovering.” They went on to counsel that his restoration time, at current, is unknown, which has led to many being of the idea that Vingegaard received’t be absolutely recovered in time for June 29 when the Tour de France will get underway. It could be a significant blow to Vingegaard but additionally to Visma-Lease a Bike too, whose different star rider, Wout van Aert, sustained related accidents at Round Flanders final month.
In regular circumstances, the potential absence of the defending Tour de France champion heading can be a major plus for the riders who’re anticipated to mount a problem of their very own, nevertheless it’s not essentially the case right here, though there may be excellent news for one rider. Through the Tour de Basque, Remco Evenepoel additionally crashed out and broke his collarbone. Whereas his accidents weren’t as extreme as Vingegaard’s, they may undoubtedly hamper his preparations for the large race in a few months’ time.
Primoz Roglic, one other Tour de France 2024 contender, was main the identical race however withdrew whereas within the lead after falling in the identical crash. He may have stayed on to win the race, however his resolution to retire may show a masterstroke as his accidents weren’t too unhealthy, and there have been no fractures sustained. Finally, it implies that of the riders fancied to be there or thereabouts within the Tour de France, Roglic has positioned himself properly as arguably the very best of the strolling wounded.
Vingegaard, till it’s identified that he received’t be using on this yr’s race, will nonetheless be the one to beat within the eyes of most, doubtlessly so, even when he’s not 100%. But when the Dane is compelled to withdraw, it actually does open the door for the chasing pack, and it could possibly be probably the most wide-open Tour de France for a very long time. Will probably be onerous to foretell a winner, particularly with the probability of a number of being much less ready than regular.
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