Jonas Vingegaard and Wout van Aert confirmed fit for Tour de France as Visma-Lease a Bike reveal strong squad
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Updated 25/06/2024 at 11:08 GMT
Defending champion Jonas Vingegaard and nine-time stage winner Wout van Aert have both been confirmed in Visma-Lease a Bike's line-up for the upcoming Tour de France, ending weeks of speculation over their fitness. Vingegaard said he feels "good and very motivated", while Van Aert is happy with his "development" in recent weeks. The duo have been training together at altitude in Tignes.
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Visma-Lease a Bike have announced their squad for the upcoming Tour de France, with defending champion Jonas Vingegaard and nine-time stage winner Wout van Aert leading the charge.
After weeks of speculation over their fitness, both Vingegaard and Van Aert were confirmed to make the start-line in Florence on June 29.
Vingegaard, who recently recovered from a crash in the Tour of the Basque Country, said he feels "good and very motivated".
"I am excited to start the Tour,” Vingegaard said. “The last few months have not always been easy, but I thank my family and Team Visma-Lease a Bike for their unwavering support.
“We have worked together to get to this moment, and of course, I am very excited to see where I stand. I feel good and very motivated."
Sporting director Merijn Zeeman said he was proud of Vingegaard’s comeback from serious injury, but said the team will be cautious about his preparation.
"I am very proud of Jonas and the coaching team. He is coming back from a serious injury. In the last few weeks, he has shown what a champion he is, both mentally and physically.
“Of course, we don't know how far he can go yet. We are being cautious because he has not 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, who is also recovering from a serious crash suffered in Dwars door Vlaanderen, said he is “looking forward" to competing in the biggest race of the year.
He has competed in the Tour of Norway since his injury and has been training at altitude with Vingegaard in Tignes.
“Of course, this was not the plan initially, but after my development in the last weeks, I really wanted it, and the team agreed. Our main goal is, of course, to ride a top classification with Jonas. I want to contribute to that with an excellent team."
Zeeman added: "Just like Jonas, Wout has had to deal with a considerable physical and mental blow. But once again, Wout has shown himself to be a rock-solid champion. His class as an athlete and leadership qualities add value to our team. We are happy to have Jonas and Wout at the start, together with an excellent team.”
Sepp Kuss, Matteo Jorgenson, Wilco Kelderman, Christophe Laporte and Jan Tratnik complete the line-up.
"Matteo Jorgenson has already become one of the strongest riders in the team this year, with wins in Paris-Nice and Dwars door Vlaanderen and his second place in the Dauphine,” Zeeman said.
“Sepp Kuss proved last year that he is a great climber, an important domestique, and a leader in his own right with a victory in the Vuelta a Espana. European champion Christophe Laporte had an unfortunate spring due to injury and illness but has returned to form in the last two months. He will be an important link in the team.
“Tiesj Benoot had an excellent spring, including a podium finish at the Amstel Gold Race, and carried that good feeling into the final training period. Wilco Kelderman missed the Giro d'Italia with a broken collarbone but is now fit again and will be an important rider in the mountain stages.
"Jan Tratnik has already won Omloop het Nieuwsblad this year. He was strong in the Giro, and with his experience and qualities, he will play an important role in the Tour squad."
Jayco AIUla and Uno-X Mobility also announced their line-ups this week.
Simon Yates, Michael Matthews, Dylan Groenewegen, Luke Durbridge, Chris Harper, Chris Juul-Jensen, Luka Mezgec and Elmar Reinders were confirmed for Jayco on Thursday.
Earlier in the week, Uno-X announced Magnus Cort, Alexander Kristoff, Jonas Abrahamsen, Tobias Halland Johannessen, Rasmus Fossum Tiller, Soren Wærenskjold, Johannes Kulset and Odd Christian Eiking in their squad.
The 2024 race takes place from June 29 to July 20, beginning in Florence and finishing in Nice.
discovery+ is the streaming home of the Tour de France this summer, with live coverage running June 29 to July 21.
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