"The reference is always the time trial in the 2023 Tour de France" - Visma DS talks of unrealistic expectations for Jonas Vingegaard's time trials

Jonas Vingegaard's disappointing time trial was the highlight of this Tuesday's stage at the Giro d'Italia and it was a day where the Team Visma | Lease a Bike leader did not manage to take the time he hoped for in his rivals. He is defended within his team, who believe many expect performances such as his at the 2023 Tour de France.

As the peloton moves into the second week of the Corsa Rosa, fatigue and illnesses start to play a bigger role. The first week had a few rainy days and crashes also threw in extra variables into the mix, something which not all riders would enjoy.

"I think the entire peloton will be sniffling a bit in the first few days after the cold days. But that is nothing; you're talking about a cough or some sneezing, that's all it is," Visma DS Marc Reef said in an interview with In de Leiderstrui.

Vingegaard has just gotten off the race's sole time trial, a day where he was expected to put in big gaps over his direct rivals for the pink jersey. The outcome was not quite that, with him losing over a minute to Thymen Arensman, and only gaining 1:22 minutes on Felix Gall. I

It was a self-admitted poor performance from the Dane, who said afterwards: “Terrible. It was terrible. It was a very long, flat time trial, and it’s not my specialty to do a flat time trial like this.”

However, balance is also required, taking into consideration Vingegaard's best time trial performances in the past were often on mountainous ones. "The reference is always the time trial in the 2023 Tour de France, but that isn't entirely fair," Reef adds.

Join now and build your Fantasy Tour de France (15+5) team and compete for $9,900 / €8,500 / £7,350 in prizes!

"That was one of his best days on the bike, and if you compare that course to Sunday's, you already have the answer".

However, it wasn't reason for much stress or dissatisfaction, as it did not change Vingegaard's position as the man to beat in this Giro. Looking back afterwards, we are very happy with the situation. We have a minute and a half lead over Arensman, 2 minutes over Gall, and even more over everyone else. We are in a very good position, with the pink jersey still with Bahrain Victorious. That is okay for us".

Logically speaking, the team's sports director also aknowledged that the best riders on the day were always going to be at an advantage: "If you take Ganna away, it is only a minute you lose to Arensman. On a course like this, Arensman can push a lot of power with his weight, and if you lose 10 or 15 seconds less, I think you are in an ideal situation in terms of the result. But we can be satisfied with how it went".