"Remco and Primoz are simply among the best riders in the world" - Jonas Vingegaard looking forward to Itzulia Basque Country clash with Tour de France rivals

Jonas Vingegaard is on stellar form and has absolutely dominated both O Gran Camiño and Tirreno-Adriatico; the Team Visma | Lease a Bike rider is eager to race Itzulia Basque Country where he will face both Primoz Roglic and Remco Evenepoel.

"They are among the best riders in the world and it is always fun and challenging to compete against them. It's always good to know where you stand against them," Vingegaard said in words to Het Nieuwsblad. "So yeah, I'm looking forward to competing against them. The peloton here in Tirreno was already of a high level, but Remco and Primoz are simply among the best riders in the world."

Hence, the six days of racing in the Basque Country promise a lot of action. Nevertheless, Vingegaard has dominated the Italian race where he will be joined by Juan Ayuso and Jai Hindley on the podium. An ominous sign of good form, perhaps even too good some argue.

"I'm not worried about that. Being good now is no guarantee that I will also be good in the Tour. And anyone who is bad now can certainly be good in the Tour," he comments on that possibility. "The build-up to the Tour is a different phase of the season. Compared to last year, I don't think I'm better or worse. However, things did not work out immediately in Paris-Nice last year. Two years ago I was worse during this period. My preparation was not good at the time, I had been ill."

This year everything so far is clicking, and the Dane is seizing his form to take victory after victory. “I just like it. And I like to win. It's never a bad thing for confidence to win races early in the season," he jokes. "That breakaway with Carapaz also seemed a bit too dangerous to me. Richie was not yet far enough in the rankings to just let him ride. So why shouldn't I go for the day's victory myself?'

"Yes, I did indeed use a different bicycle. On Friday, after the climb, there was a long descent and a sloping finish line, so it made more sense to start with the more aerodynamic S5, with one front blade. Monte Petrano was a steep, difficult uphill finish and so it was appropriate to use our climbing bike," he concluded.