"Jonas Vingegaard won’t be winning a third Tour this year" - Philippa York gives Visma leader no chance following brutal Itzulia crash

Thursday, 11 April 2024 at 10:01

From what looked like being a Tour de France battle for the ages this summer as Grand Tour cycling's 'Big 4' all targeted the Maillot Jaune, one crash at the recent Itzulia Basque Country has thrown everything into chaos.

Three of the 'Big 4' were all involved in the Itzulia crash. Primoz Roglic abandoned the race in the back of his team car and only five days later, has he managed to get back onto his bike. Remco Evenepoel left the race in the back of an ambulance and has recently undergone surgery for a broken collarbone. But it was Jonas Vingegaard, two-time Tour de France winner, who was worst hit by the crash. The Dane needed an oxygen mask as he was stretchered into an ambulance, with hospital testing revealing a broken collarbone, broken ribs and punctured lung.

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Although Team Visma | Lease a Bike have refused to fully rule out Vingegaard appearing at the Tour de France later this summer, Philippa York believes it's curtains for the Dane's hopes of taking a third successive Maillot Jaune. "Sadly, I think Jonas Vingegaard won’t be winning a third Tour this year even if he makes it to the start – which, given the extent of his injuries, seems unlikely too," York writes for Cycling News. "If it had been only – and I use 'only' with the greatest respect for each ailment’s consequences – the collarbone or ribs or punctured lung, then he may have had a fairly short disruption to his schedule. With all of them at the same time, it wouldn’t be prudent to think he can still line up in Florence for the defence of his title. His being kept in hospital shows the concern for just how seriously he is damaged."

York, a three-time Tour de France stage winner and King of the Mountains winner at the Tour, plus a runner-up at three Grand Tours, is doubtful even Evenepoel will be able to challenge for the Maillot Jaune. "The doctors at the Herentals hospital have done their magic as far as the collarbone is concerned but it remains to be seen how the other fracture heals," York evaluates. "Even if it is quick, the preparation to challenge Pogačar and co. at the Tour will be disrupted. I don’t think he will miss the Tour de France, but without an ideal run-in he may have to reconsider his objectives there. The Olympics could well become his main focus as a result of this setback."

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For Roglic however, York is slightly more optimistic. "It’s not often you can mention ‘Primož Roglič’ and ‘crash’ in the same sentence and it turns out that he’s the lucky one. But cycling is full of surprises, which is why the Bora-Hansgrohe leader surviving two falls and abandoning the race while in the leader’s jersey can be described as fortunate. Miraculous, even," York says.

"With almost 2 weeks of healing time until the Ardennes classics he ought to be back in action there, though I wouldn’t be surprised if he skipped Flèche Wallonne and saved himself for Liège-Bastogne-Liège and a rendezvous with Tadej Pogacar," York concludes.

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16 Comments

Crashjames 11 April 2024 at 14:51+ 344

Haters gonna hate. Lots has to go right between now and the tour for any of the contenders. They all need to stay healthy, have their best men in the team, etc etc. Pog wasn’t planning to ride past years tour after a broken wrist in the spring… methinks Pippa just trying to stay somehow relevant as a middling ex pro

BlueEyesWhiteDragoon 11 April 2024 at 14:03+ 155

I had to agree

Jerrychicken 11 April 2024 at 14:06+ 8

Chris Horner has just done a video on his similar crash and timescale and he was ready by the Tour of Slovenia before the Tour.
I'm feeling a Knucklehead comment is coming!! 😉

BlueEyesWhiteDragoon 11 April 2024 at 14:06+ 155

😂😂😂

Mistermaumau 12 April 2024 at 02:38+ 3552

Thanks for the tip, it was a pretty good video regarding HIS situation, he should not assume too broadly that someone else is likely in the same one, am sure he’s not even seen any of the images or diagnosis.

There is a reason why he is still in hospital and still being operated on so long after. Sorry for all the wishful thinkers and provocateurs but it’s more and more sure this is a very different situation to any of those it’s been compared to.

BlueEyesWhiteDragoon 11 April 2024 at 15:08+ 155

Yeah. He is right!

1stpastthepost 11 April 2024 at 16:24+ 121

"He" is transgender. It is more correct to say "she" is right. I think Pippa is probably correct in that assessment. Jonas has a hard road ahead.

BlueEyesWhiteDragoon 11 April 2024 at 15:08+ 155

Whatever floats your boat. I am not arguing on your assessment 😅

1stpastthepost 11 April 2024 at 15:53+ 121

I'm not arguing either. "It's not about floating my boat." Whatever that means? I just stated that he is a she now. That fact causes me no concerns.

BlueEyesWhiteDragoon 11 April 2024 at 15:08+ 155

Me either

JM 12 April 2024 at 02:42+ 7

Why are we making sure we all know? This is not something that needs to be said.

abstractengineer 11 April 2024 at 18:33+ 3140

agree with this Pog does the double

Mistermaumau 11 April 2024 at 18:15+ 3552

Possibly, seeing as the Giro won’t even make him sweat. But there are still a couple of guys who’ll make it unsure if he gets complacent.

mobk 12 April 2024 at 01:40+ 1617

I’m rooting for him. But let’s not give him the trophies just yet. The Basque crash showed us how expectations can change in a split second.

abstractengineer 11 April 2024 at 23:44+ 3140

this year is total crap. Two crashes and the classics are finished and early season is done. I dont want another crash to ruin the later half of the season

BlueEyesWhiteDragoon 11 April 2024 at 19:36+ 155

Me either! 😑