"I expected to lose more" - Jonas Vingegaard optimistic with Tour de France time-trial

Jonas Vingegaard entered the Tour de France with relatively unknown form for his rivals but has positively surprised over the opening days of the race. On the Col du Galibier he was distanced by Tadej Pogacar and this Friday in the race's sole flat time-trial he shed more time, but he was not upset with what he believed to be a day where he'd lose more.

“Of course they are gaining time, but I expected to lose more. The course is much more suited to them,” Vingegaard said in a press release issued by the team. “Perhaps in the high mountains it is about minutes instead of seconds. We have to stick to and believe in our plan.” Virtually the same words he said after the stage to Valloire, where he lost 50 seconds when taking in time on the road and bonifications that the UAE Team Emirates rider conquered.

Vingegaard started his effort perfectly yesterday against the clock, coming in third to only Remco Evenepoel and Pogacar throughout all of the intermediate sprints. Despite his collarbone fracture, the train he put in the bike was enough to prevent a bad performance. In the final kilometers he faded and he ended losing time to Primoz Roglic and finishing fourth in the day, but it was not a reason to be disappointed. Vingegaard lost 37 seconds to Evenepoel, 25 to Pogacar and 3 to Roglic - his main rivals.

“As I have already indicated, everything we achieve is a bonus. Of course we are going for the highest possible, but losing time in the first part of the Tour was certainly calculated. I feel that my form is improving every day. I am satisfied with today and am looking forward to the rest of this Tour de France," he concluded. This Saturday will be a treacherous stage with plenty wind, but Team Visma | Lease a Bike now mainly focus on this Sunday's stage where the gravel sectors will require a full team support to prevent Tadej Pogacar from taking more time most likely.