Merijn Zeeman on Tadej Pogacar's Giro-Tour double: "For me, Sepp is the proof that you can do both at a high level and that’s why I believe Pogacar can do both"

Jonas Vingegaard is not racing the Giro d'Italia in 2024, Merijn Zeeman confirms. The DS of Jumbo-Visma (soon to become Team Visma | Lease a Bike) also added that to race three Grand Tours in one season would not be a good idea for the Tour de France champion.

“You’ll have to ask me in one year if Pogacar at the Giro is good for us or not. It’s very difficult to say because we all know that he’s a quality rider, and many say that he’s the best rider in the world," Jumbo-Visma DS Merijn Zeeman told GCN. "He makes the races super attractive, so for the fans to have a rider like him in the Giro, makes it very special. It makes it a nice challenge for us and for other teams to see if we can beat him. For cycling in general, the fact that he’s in the Giro and Tour makes the races more complete and interesting.”

In reality, Pogacar will not really be competition for the Dutch team at the Giro, who provisionally should have the likes of Wout van Aert and Matteo Jorgenson present - but not as contenders for the overall win. The Slovenian is racing two Grand Tours in a season for the first time, as Vingegaard did this season. However, the experienced Sports Director believes that it is fully possibly to race two Grand Tours at the highest level and will not underestimate the UAE Team Emirates rider.

“This year I was worried about Sepp Kuss. When Wilco Kelderman was injured and couldn’t do the Giro we needed a super strong replacement to help Primož Roglič and I decided to bring Sepp. Then I was worried about Sepp’s level at the Tour but then I noticed that if you do it right then you can be on a very high level at both the Giro and the Tour," he says. "For me, Sepp is the proof that you can do both at a high level and that’s why I believe Pogačar can do both. With such a super-talented rider, and such a smart performance team, they can do that.”

"What I expect is that they talked a lot with him on the team, and with his performance coaches, they discussed everything with the question over whether it was possible to be at a high level in both races. But what I also know, and he said it multiple times, is that he really likes Italian races. The whole race and the atmosphere. I’m not surprised that he wanted to do it."

The team will have it's maximum priority at the Tour de France. After two very successful editions however, the Dutch team lets off the gas ever so slightly and will allow for more freedom within the team - with van Aert likely to skip the Grand Boucle to prepare for the Olympic Games. Jonas Vingegaard will be on the search for a third Tour win, but Zeeman immediately cuts off any expectations that the Dane could follow Pogacar into the Giro.

“I can confirm he’s not doing the Giro," Zeeman states. "I think he’s said in an interview that he’d like to do all three Grand Tours in one year. I’m not sure if he knows what he’s saying but next year he will not be in the Giro.”

There, if he arrives with his best form once again, it will be the man to beat. “He’s together with Primoz and Remco Evenepoel, normally Pogacar is the biggest rival but we also think that Primoz and Remco will be very, very strong opponents," Zeeman believes."