"The Danish fans think that Vingegaard did the right thing" - Jumbo-Visma controversy overblown by nationalist views of fans according to Danish journalist

Sanne Jakobsen covers the Tour de France as a journalist for the Danish correspondents, TV channel TV2. In her opinion the so-called civil-war at Jumbo-Visma civil war controversy involving Jonas Vingegaard and Wout van Aert has been blown out of proportion by that nationalist views of their respective supporters.

"There is a lot of talk about the incident in Denmark, because everyone is of course rooting for a new Tour victory for Vingegaard," she explains. "Van Aert has said before the Tour that he is not going for green and that yellow is the main goal for Vingegaard. In that light, people in Denmark find his reaction - throwing his bicycle and water bottle - exaggerated."

The perceived lack of support given to van Aert by Vingegaard in the final of stage 2 on Sunday was heavily criticised in Belgium. In Denmark however, they understandably feel the blame is not on the shoulders of their cycling hero.

"The Danish fans think that Vingegaard did the right thing by not wasting energy in the chase," Jakobsen continues. "He would compromise his yellow dream if he did, the story goes. Vingegaard also let me know that he felt that he was Van Aert had already helped by not cooperating with Pogacar after the Jaizkibel."

"It is difficult for the outside world to assess the relationship between the two. Vingegaard has always said in interviews that he has a good relationship with Van Aert. He also really wanted Wout to win yesterday," she analyses. "Everyone agrees that Van Aert is perhaps the most important helper for Vingegaard and they hope that does not change. If Van Aert no longer wants to help, I think it will be difficult for Vingegaard to win the Tour again."