"We will see Jonas 2.0" - Visma insists Jonas Vingegaard is building 'best version' ahead of 2025 Tour de France

With Tadej Pogacar putting in an all-time great performance at Strade Bianche on Saturday afternoon, the Slovenian's Maillot Jaune rival Jonas Vingegaard gets the chance to make a statement of his own at Paris-Nice, starting on Sunday, March 9th.

Vingegaard has already started his season strongly, taking the overall victory at the Volta ao Algarve, winning a final stage time trial in impressive style. "Obviously when you win, you can't complain," reflects Team Visma | Lease a Bike's Tim Heemskerk in quotes to Cycling Weekly. "Seeing him ride like this is already very promising, and that good shape and form he is taking now to Paris-Nice. But we also know and have to remember that this summer, and also the Vuelta coming after that, is the highlight of the year. I’m not saying he’s not in good shape right now, but when Jonas starts his Tour preparation, we will see Jonas 2.0."

In what is potentially a precursor to the 2025 Tour de France, Vingegaard will be co-leader of Team Visma | Lease a Bike at Paris-Nice alongside the defending champion Matteo Jorgenson. "We'll have to see how the race will develop. We have two riders that can handle themselves, but there are a lot of strong riders that can give them a good run for the money," Heemskerk explains.

Last year, Vingegaard lost his hold of the Maillot Jaune to Pogacar. Following a massive crash at the Itzulia Basque Country a few months earlier though, Visma are certain that if the Dane can stay injury-free this year he will return to the Tour de France at his very best level, ready to compete with the Slovenian world champion.

"It takes months to actually gain muscle mass again and get back to the explosive values which he had last year before Tirreno-Adriatico," Heemskerk says. "That's a process where at the end of December, January, we saw values which are like normal again. Of course, you want to become better, but like I always say, when you have a crash like that, you never know how long it takes. I also have to say that we have approached it a little bit more relaxed. For instance not doing any altitude work now to have a little bit extra in reserve for summer and autumn."

"He's now really focused and I think that will give him a little bit extra in the tank for around May time. We will try to have the best version of Jonas for when the Tour comes and learn from what we're doing now," concludes the Visma man, insisting Vingegaard has tunnel vision on anything outside his goal of the Tour de France. "That is a big strength of Jonas anyways, because knowing him like I do, he doesn't read the stuff in the media, he's not really ever on his phone. He is focused on his own things and he does not read what's written. But when preparation for the Tour starts, it's a very different Jonas."