"That double is impossible in modern cycling" - Jumbo-Visma DS Zeeman argues that extremely detailed preparation makes Giro-Tour double unachievable currently

The Giro d'Italia and Tour de France GC on the same year is a difficult challenge, but one which riders have attempted - and succeeded - in recent years. However, Jumbo-Visma's DS Merijn Zeeman argues that a victory in both is no longer possible because of how much work goes into preparing for a Grand Tour.

“Everyone knows that in the run-up to Paris-Nice, Jonas had some private issues that threw him back," Merijn Zeeman told Wielerflits. "In the Itzulia Basque Country he was then very good and managed to book three stage victories in addition to the final victories. There he really impressed on a course that was not even suitable for him. He then continued that line in the training sessions, so that he came to the start of the Tour in Bilbao in top form.”

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Zeeman keeps up with the Dane all season long and has managed the team into victory over the last few years quite well. Jumbo-Visma have put in extreme focus into detail in the run-up to the Tour in both years, successfully as they stand on the verge of winning both. But besides the obvious quality in the lineups he underlines the detail in preparation which Vingegaard has undergone this spring.

“The first part of the season with Paris-Nice and the Itzulia Basque Country was also a goal for Jonas. We also prepared for that period at altitude. After the Basque Country, we didn't have such a good experience for him in the past with the Flèche Wallone and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. That is why we have chosen this year to remove the Ardennes classics from its program," he shares. "In order not to let him ride unnecessarily races, where we did not see any direct opportunities for him.”

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Instead Vingegaard put in extra work preparing for the Grand Boucle whilst Tadej Pogacar had to take time off due to injuries suffered at Liège-Bastogne-Liège. A method perhaps that works perfectly for the Dutch team and they have implemented it once again. “That has indeed worked out well for two years now. This preparation is part of our way of working. It's commendable how much Jonas and those other guys are willing to give to get to their best level."

"Quite a lot is asked of them. They are away from home for a long time and they are certainly not easy camps. Work is done every day. That has paid off. Tim Heemskerk, Jonas Vingegaard's trainer, and the performance staff planned this very carefully. Everyone has worked hard all season.”

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Despite not having Primoz Roglic, who also had his tailor-made preparation for the Giro d'Italia, Jumbo has been able to take to the front of the Tour. “Let me put it this way: a team with Primoz is always better than a team without Primoz. To go to the Giro d'Italia with Primoz and to the Tour de France with Jonas is a planning choice we made together. The Giro is a fantastic race."

"I also read an interview with Pogačar in which he says that he also wants to ride the Giro one day. When you're in Tour it's always about the Tour, but the Giro is also a great race. However, I do not believe in one thing: you can no longer ride a general classification in both the Giro and the Tour. In my opinion, that double is impossible in modern cycling," he concludes.

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