How will Jonas Vingegaard "recover in such a tough second and third week"? Analyst argues injury may still prove obstacle for defending Tour de France champion

So far Jonas Vingegaard's Tour de France has been one that to him, has been very emotional. But even for anyone outside Team Visma | Lease a Bike, it's been impressive how the Dane recovered from massive injuries in April to reach his best form this summer, and to many already take the upper hand when it comes to the psychological battle against Tadej Pogacar. However, the same way Pogacar cracked last year in the final week on a day because of non-ideal preparation, the same could happen to the Danish climber.

"Well of course have to wait and see to what extent Vingegaard will really get through. The team indicated several times in the beginning that it was going beyond expectations and we could all see that. After all, what happened to him is not nothing. That also says something about his class," Roxane Knetemann argued in De Avondetappe show. "On the other hand, we also do not know, bearing in mind everything that happened, how he will recover in such a tough second and third week. Normally those are his best weeks, but now it remains somewhat uncertain".

Stage 17 of last year's Tour is very much alive in the memory of Tadej Pogacar, as the current race leader at the time cracked on the Col de la Loze and lost almost six minutes to his main rival. It was one bad day in 21, but enough to decide the Tour. The same could happen, but equally it can happen to Vingegaard, who has been the one to enter the Tour this time around having been away from competition for months, and not having the ideal training in preparation. Knetemann points out the possibility of the tables turning in 2024, and that none can be safe they will have their best level until the end of the race.

She also argues that on his part, Pogacar and UAE Team Emirates have seized every chance in the first half of the race to capitalize on their leader's specialties. "Pogacar has already seized the chances he could and had to seize in his own style. That is a credit to him. Hopefully the second half of the Tour will be incredibly exciting again and it will not all fall into place too quickly. Hopefully we as cycling fans can stay on the edge of our seats until the end". However, despite many attacks, Pogacar could not capitalize on his attacks on stages 9 and 11 where the most explosive terrain would on paper suit him better.

She has also talked about the financial situation in the peloton and if it is being a decisive factor in this Grand Boucle. "I think that's a difficult question. On the one hand, that's of course a resounding yes, because with more money you can attract better riders and coach them much better. I think that last point is especially important. But on the other hand: the rider with the most victories so far, Biniam Girmay of Intermarché-Wanty, is absolutely not in a team in the top five in terms of budget," she argues.

"I think his team is actually at the bottom (reports suggest Intermarché - Wanty is in fact the World Tour team with the smallest budget, ed.). So it's not always all there. I think it's great to watch the battle for the classification in a stage-race, but also that every day there's a new opportunity for a unique stage winner. Coming back to the statement: you do see those budgetary differences reflected in the results, but I think Girmay's story confirms that it doesn't say everything by a long shot".