INTERVIEW Kasper Asgreen | After Giro, Dane aims for another Tour victory - "I always came here to try to go for stages"

Kasper Asgreen is a specialist when it comes to chasing stages and is used to the pressure of the biggest races in the world. CyclingUpToDate has talked to the EF Education-EasyPost rider ahead of the Tour de France where he will be one of the American team's weapons to chase victories throughout the three weeks.

The 30-year old confirmed to us that it was always the plan to do the Giro-Tour double. "I feel good, I came out of the Giro and recovered well. Did some good training, just finetune a few things... The shape was pretty good after the GIro, I had a nice approach to the Tour I have to say".

The former Tour of Flanders winner has struggled in the classics over the past few years but found that in the Grand Tours he continued to perform strongly and has net a breakaway victory at the 2023 Tour. Now this year, he was crowned the winner of the chaotic Nova Gorica stage at the Giro d'Italia, holding back the peloton by a few seconds only after attacking his breakaway companions in the final kilometers.

The team had in Richard Carapaz a massive weapon to chase victories in France, but his absence does not change much for Asgreen. "I always came here to try to go for stages. Obviously I would support him the best I can in the stages that weren't for me and now I can take it more easy. But generally my goals would be the same". The hilly stages of the second and third week will likely be the priority for Asgreen.

Asked if Jonas Vingegaard, his compatriot, could properly challenge Tadej Pogacar to win the overall classification in this Tour, the Dane said with a smile on his face: "I think he's going to win".