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The champ is here
After months of speculation, Jonas Vingegaard will officially line up at the Tour de France after being named in Visma-Lease a Bike’s eight-man squad.
Injuries sustained in a crash at the Itzulia Basque Country on April 4 – among them, broken ribs and a punctured lung – had threatened to keep the two-time defending champion away from the French Grand Tour.
But it appears his remarkable recovery is complete just one week out from Stage 1, with team sports director Merijn Zeeman confirming the 27-year-old had signed off on the decision.
Just how competitive the Dane will be remains to be seen, however, with rivals Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), Primoz Roglic (Bora-Hansgrohe), and Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) bound to make his quest for a third successive title all the more difficult.
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Double trouble
Tadej Pogacar is used to making history and the Slovenian has set his sights on some more at the 2024 Tour de France.
Not since Marco Pantani in 1998 has a rider managed to win both the Giro d’Italia and Grand Boucle in the same year – and yet, that is exactly what the 25-year-old will try and achieve next month.
The demand on professional cyclists; on their responsibility, preparation, and execution, has only increased in the 26 years since Pantani’s remarkable feat, which is why a Grand Tour double has so often been out of the question.
However, in 2024, the stars have seemingly aligned for the two-time Tour champion, fresh from a dominant performance at the Giro and eager to join Pantani’s company alongside Fausto Coppi (1949 and 1952), Jacques Anquetil (1964), Eddy Merckx (1970, 1972, 1974), Bernard Hinault (1982, 1985), Stephen Roche (1987) and Miguel Indurain (1992, 1993).
Roglic, then Hindley
Last year, Jai Hindley was the designated leader for Bora-Hansgrohe’s tilt at the general classification, and while he did manage to wear the yellow jersey at one stage, he will not spearhead the squad this time out.
Instead, it is Primoz Roglic who will line up with overall intentions, fresh off his narrow victory at the Criterium du Dauphine.
Roglic, too, had been caught up in the crash in the Basque Country but was able to overcome any lingering issues and rediscover the form that saw him finish second at the 2020 edition of the Tour.
The Dauphine saw Hindley slip into a more supportive role for Roglic as a result, and the Australian will likely reprise such duties as the German team look to disrupt the expected battle between Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar.
Aussie corner
Another Tour, another handful of Australian riders to follow from afar.
Six Australians will take to the start line in France; each with different roles and responsibilities.
Despite finishing seventh in the general classification last year, Hindley will instead take on a more supportive role for Bora-Hansgrohe next month – as will Chris Harper for Team Jayco-AlUla.
The Australian team will also have Luke Durbridge and Michael Matthews at their disposal, while Bahrain-Victorious have called upon Jack Haig for their endeavours at the French Grand Tour, with Lotto-Dstny calling upon Jarrad Drizners.
Nice break from tradition
For the first time in the history of the Tour de France, Stage 21, the final day of racing, will not take place in Paris.
The presence of the Olympics in the French capital means the peloton will now conclude the Grand Tour in Nice, a city situated some 930 kilometres south on the coast of the country.
In another break from tradition, the final stage will not conclude with a bunch sprint, with race organisers instead calling for a 34-kilometre time trial that will see the battle for overall honours go down to the wire.
Starting in Monaco, riders will first navigate two climbs before swinging into Nice and racing against the clock for one final shot at cycling’s biggest prize: the yellow jersey.
