"You owe it to people to show up" - Brian Holm gobsmacked with Visma's rest day decision

During the Tour de France, you have the biggest amount of media following the race caravan on the daily. On the first rest day of the race however, Team Visma | Lease a Bike did not host a press conference or any media event which has led to criticism from some on the outside over the decision.

"When you have so much money and are such a big team, you owe it to people to show up - especially during the Tour. It's part of the party, and that's how it is. It's part of being a star that you're available during the world's biggest cycling race," Holm said in words to Ekstra Bladet.

Before the race the Dutch team hosted a press conference including Jonas Vingegaard, Matteo Jorgenson, Simon Yates, Wout van Aert and Grischa Niermann. On the daily, all of these riders face questions of all sorts and currently all of them have been headliners in the race.

Visma is fighting for the victory in the Tour and although the Dane has struggled in the time-trial, he and the team have looked flawless elsewhere, and have been putting on both physical and psychological pressure on the Slovenian and a UAE Team Emirates - XRG that is racing without Tadej Pogacar.

"For riders and staff, press conferences are generally annoying, so somewhere I understand the idea. But then at least they should have sent a few people out to the press anyway," Holm, former member of Soudal - Quick-Step, argues. "It could have been Vingegaard and the sports director, for example. It doesn't take more than a little over an hour after lunch".

Nevertheless the Dutch team remains fully focused on the goal of beating Pogacar at this Tour and on the eve of the first mountain stage we've got a tricky and explosive day into Toulouse where we may see some aggressive racing in it's finale.