"I know what Primoz can do" - Jonas Vingegaard can recognize the threat at Itzulia Basque Country

Jonas Vingegaard is relaxed ahead of stage 2 of Itzulia Basque Country. He's talked about his feedback from the opening time-trial, expectations for the week and how this race might affect the Tour de France.

"Yesterday the legs felt good and hopefully the rest of the week as well," Vingegaard said in an interview with several reporters this morning, captured by CyclingPro.net. "I know what Primoz can do and I know also what I can do. I'm happy with my performance and it cannot affect anyone else." Despite the mishap of the Slovenian - and Remco Evenepoel's crash - he lost 15 and 4 seconds respectively to who may be his two biggest rivals in the week. That wasn't an ideal start to a race that he knows will be difficult.

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"I expect it will be a very difficult race, specially the last days, we'll just have to do our best and then see by the end of the week. I think the whole last stage is a keypoint, the stage is so hard, of course you have to be ready there," he adds. "Depending on how my legs are, my shape is, I guess we'll see at the end, I'll just do my best and fight everything I can." He counts on the support of Sepp Kuss and Steven Kruijswijk who will be key for his Tour de France; but the team is one of the few that come with one set leader. 

"I won't only look at one, I think you have to look at everyone, a lot of teams also have more than one leader so we have to be ready for that," he is aware. Specially with several hilly days on the menu, it will not be an easy task for Team Visma | Lease a Bike to keep things under control if they are required to. At the time being that is BORA - hansgrohe's responsibility.

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However, he does not believe that this week will have any effect for the Tour de France, even if he's facing most of his rivals except for Tadej Pogacar on Basque roads. "I've said it many times but doesn't really matter what shape you're in now, can always change for the Tour de France."

"Of course I'm happy to be in good shape and go for a result here, but going for a result here doesn't change your shape in July," he concluded.

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Smile, the sun is out in Basque Country! Let’s go!! Stage 2 @ehitzulia #Itzulia2024

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