Jonas Vingegaard may be training outside again after the most serious crash of his career last month, but the Tour de France champion will not go back and try to defend his title in July unless his condition is 100 per cent.
While the Visma-Lease a Bike rider would have the option of starting the race, with a view to regaining top condition and perhaps taking stage wins, his team has said he would only line up for the French Grand Tour if he was at his best.
“After such a fall we have to be careful and see how his recovery progresses day by day. We will have to wait a little longer to get a better idea of where he stands now,” Visma-Lease a Bike chief, Richard Plugge, told Relevo .
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“There are two scenarios: one where Jonas goes to the Tour and another where he doesn't. It all depends on his recovery. But if he is not 100 per cent, we will not go to the Tour to defend his title.
“Things are going better with Wout Van Aert. Fortunately, he was in less serious condition and has also been recovering longer than Vingegaard,” Plugge added of his Belgian star, who crashed in late March.
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“Physically I think it is feasible, but we have not yet sat together to discuss his program. We have to see whether he sees himself in the Tour de France or not, and analyze all possible scenarios to decide.”
Van Aert crashed hard in Dwars door Vlaanderen on March 27th, sustaining fractures to his collarbone, sternum and ribs. Vingegaard crashed a week later, on stage 4 of Itzulia Basque Country.
The two-time Tour winner was more seriously injured than Van Aert as he broke his collarbone and ribs and suffered a collapsed lung; the latter giving rise to most concern and resulting in a two-week hospital stay.
Jonas is back riding on his bike outside again. ??
Hear what he has to say about his recovery and the Tour de France. pic.twitter.com/Rf1d3odoeM
— Team Visma | Lease a Bike (@vismaleaseabike) May 7, 2024
