Jonas Vingegaard was not present when the 2023 Tour de France route was unveiled in Paris on Thursday, but the reigning champion paid tribute to the route, albeit tentatively.

Speaking to Cycling News and others before the Singapore Tour de France criterium, Vingegaard seemed to like the mountain route, although he was disappointed that the time trial was only 22 km.

The Jumbo-Visma rider has finished third, third, seventh, and second in the Tour de France time trial four times, helping lay the groundwork for a second place in 2021 and a spectacular victory this year.

Tour de France organizers have cut the total number of time trials in 2023 in half compared to the previous two years, and the 110th edition of the Grand Boucle will focus on climbing, with a record number of 30 mountain categories, visiting all five French mountain ranges.

"Unfortunately I couldn't participate, but it's a nice route. There are long mountains and not a lot of time trials, but I think it's a good route," said Vingegaard, explaining why he did not attend the presentation in Paris.

He recently enjoyed a vacation in the Maldives before arriving early in Singapore with his family.

"I wanted to run some more," he added about the time trial.

"When there is a time trial at the end of the race, it gives you an advantage. It's an advantage for me to have a time trial at the end of the race. I still think it's a good route."

It seems almost certain that Vingegaard will be on the start line in the Basque Country next July, but he made no assurances, insisting that no Grand Tour planning has yet been done for Jumbo-Visma.

Primoz Roglic, another Grand Tour team leader, is rumored to be in the Giro d'Italia, which will feature a 70 km time trial, and Wout Van Aert, the winner of the green jersey, is rumored to be in the race, but any configuration is possible at this time

"There is still a lot to be done.

"We haven't discussed it yet. Everything is on the table," said Vingegaard. It could be the Tour, it could be the Giro.

Nevertheless, it is highly unlikely that Vingegaard will skip next year's Tour; the 25-year-old said these question marks are "more exaggerated than they are," adding, "We just haven't talked about it yet."

In any case, he more directly suggested that he wants to compete in the Tour.

"My hope is the Tour de France," said Vingegaard, later adding: "Of course, if the team has a different idea, so be it."

After various discussions, a decision will be made at Jambovisma's training camp in December.

If Vingegaard seems to be on track for the Tour, the question is what to do with Roglic. Does he send him to the lucrative Giro to try to win two Grand Tours, or does he adopt the co-leader strategy that defeated Tadej Pogacar in this year's Tour?

"I think we showed in the Tour how we can work together. We work together really well. We are good co-leaders," Vingegaard said.

The Tour will likely be next year, but Vingegaard hopes to go to Italy at some point in his career.

"I want to win three Grand Tours," he said.

"I'm not ready to do the Giro and Tour in the same year next year yet, but maybe in the future.

"It's what the teams want and what we want. If I have a big desire to be in the Giro, the team will listen to that."