Criticism of Roglic and Vingegaard absence at Liège-Bastogne-Liège "absolutely not justified" Tiesj Benoot defends

Sam Oomen and Tosh van der Sande have not started Liège-Bastogne-Liège today due to Covid-19. The team lacks Wout van Aert, Primoz Roglic and Jonas Vingegaard. Some have criticized the absence of one of the latter two, a mindset that is not justified according to Tiesh Benoot.

"That there is criticism of their absence? I think that is absolutely not justified. If you are then finished in the Giro or the Tour, people ask why they raced in the spring. That really makes no sense," Benoot said in the presentation of Jumbo-Visma at the fourth monument of the season. Roglic prepares for the Giro d'Italia whilst Jonas Vingegaard ended his spring earlier in order to have more time to prepare for the Tour de France. Benoot hence has taken up the lead of the Dutch team this week.

"If the Giro is Primoz's goal, then the team must do what they think is good preparation. That was without Liège. The same applies to Jonas. It is not because a rider like Pogacar races a lot that others should do the same," Benoot argues. "I often read that the season is too long and has too many races, but if you don't ride Liège, there will also be criticism. It makes no sense,"

He hasn't shown the same form he had earlier in the year, but will be an outsider for La Doyenne. Benoot rode to 15th at Amstel Gold Race and 7th at Flèche Wallone and will have Attila Valter as a co-leader. The two take up a big opportunity to perform in what is the last of the spring classics and monuments.