Visma-Lease A Bike has not yet been confirmed whether Jonas Vingegor will return after a horror crash in the Ituria Basque Country at this year's Tour de France, but Plan A says "the man who can win the race" even after sustaining a collapse of his collarbone, ribs and lungs on May 4. I support the dane.

Vingegaard has taken a positive step in recent weeks, returning to outdoor horseback riding, heading to the hills of Spain and now venturing to the altitude of Tignes. 

However, the presence of the winner of the 2-time defending tour to defend his yellow jersey is still touch-and-go and Visma sends him unless he is 100%

But their leaders come out and Matteo Jorgenson and Sepp Kuss step up at the Criterion du Dauphiné. And even if you have to try three wins in a row for the Dutch outfit, the spirit is still high.

"Morality is good. We expect Jonas [VIngegaard] to fit in the time of four weeks, but there is no news on it"Visma DS Grischa Niermann Cyclingnews

after the opening stage of San Pourçain-sur-Sioule "We can not predict it yet, but forever, we will not be able to predict it." We are a very, very strong team and will be able to do a really good Tour de France without Jonas.

However, Neelman said that the current hope was to start Vingegaard and win against Tadej Pogañar (UAE Team Emirates) because Slovenia is about to complete the Giro Tour double for the first time since 1998.

"Confidence is in Jonas [Vingegaard] and Jonas is ready to start the race." "It's the guy who can win the game," Neillman said outside the team bus. 

"If he can't ride, we have to make a new plan and that could include Sepp [Kus] and Matteo [Jorgenson]."

Kus is the latest winner of the Vuelta a España and Jorgenson is joining the Dutch team. Since then, he has reached new heights in 2024, with an overall victory in Paris-Nice and a one-day success in the Doursdoor Vlaanderen.

And even though Nielman doesn't want to put pressure on the pair for the tour, having a long altitude camp in the book before the Dauphine, the form is solid towards the 8-day Pre-Tour de France stage race.

"They are in good shape. He wasn't 100% fit, but we expect them to do well, so a really hard day is still far away when Sepp [Kuss] said a few days last week

"and at least they were getting good preparation. Of course, it was not the preparation of the Dauphine, but the preparation of the Tour de France, but they look good and we will see how far they will reach.

Stage 1 was the first time for a talented duo from the United States. The 24-year-old Jorgenson was very excited to be hooked on the GC challenge with his compatriots.

"I was just a roommate with Sepp[Kuss] for a few weeks in Sierra [Altitude camp] and it was like the first time we got together and it was Ameri in the team

"Being here together is pretty cool to go for GC. It's a privilege, I have to pinch myself."

He didn't even feel the pressure to co-lead the team in Vingegaard's absence, but despite his early French stage race success in Race to The Sun, the challenge

"No, actually I think I have Sepp here with me, we kind of shared a bit of a load." I think I can do that and I feel so much pressure I just want to do my best," Jorgenson said.

"It will be hard to win anyway, it was hard in Paris-Nice. I think it is a good course, but it will be a big challenge in the last 3 days on the weekend."Of course, the Americans refer to the trio of summit finishes that end the race in France.

Colette d'arreval (8.1% at 11.2 km), Samoan 1600 (9.3% at 10 km), Plateau de Guglière (9. 4% at 7.1 km) The climb will determine the overall winner as each finish in stages 6-8 and set them apart in their best form before the tour. But Jorgenson has seen more of those days in favor of the Grand Tour winner Kus.

"I think Sepp and I have really different characteristics. He's really fit for that weekend and I'm fit for the TT and the first couple of hilltop finishes so I'll try it and end up where we are"

Cox was very calm at the start of the day but just finished his media duties a few seconds before the countdown to the stage start. He was only aware that today's sprint Day is not for him and that the gap between the Dauphine and the tour has left room to find the last form.

"You can't get into a Dauphin that's not in good shape, but it's a good race to feel the kind of race you have on the tour and then also have time to adjust your training," Kuss said to the FloBikes' microphone.

"It's certainly an important race. I haven't raced in a while. But I think it feels pretty good.

"Of course, we have a long time trial, but we also have some hard Mountains stages, so we'll see how we go every day."