Merijn Zeeman previews stage 13 ascent of the Grand Colombier: “I expect that UAE will take control for Pogačar"

The summit finish atop the Grand Colombier on stage 13 of the 2023 Tour de France, is expected to be a potentially decisive day in Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard's fight for the Maillot Jaune. Jumbo-Visma's Merijn Zeeman is expecting UAE Team Emirates to try for the stage win.

“I expect that UAE will take control for Pogačar," the sports director of the Jumbo-Visma team previews in an interview with Wielerflits. "In any case, we will not check so that the winner comes from the peloton.”

Read also

PREVIEW | Tour de France 2023 stage 13 - Pogacar and Vingegaard battle for yellow jersey at Grand Colombier

Although there were no time gaps between the general classification riders on stage 12, the chaotic and hectic start to the stage must have caused some amount of stress for the Jumbo-Visma team. Nevertheless, having Tiesj Benoot in the breakaway, and riding to 4th was a good result according to Zeeman.

“Because of what we did ourselves, everyone had to suffer,” he explains. “Because if you have to drive alone behind a strong group, then we are the ones who pay the bill and the others benefit. Now UAE in particular also had to work hard.”

Read also

Jonas Vingegaard resists another dangerous Tour de France day and carries yellow jersey into mountains: "I'm ready for a big fight tomorrow and hoping for my best legs"

Team Visma | Lease a Bike

@vismaleaseabike

·Follow

🇫🇷 #TDF2023 Grand Colombier. 🤩 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐲. 😎

493

Reply

Copy link

Read 13 replies