Accidentd in the spring, Jonas Vingegaard and Wout Van Aert, the two leaders of the Visma-Lease a bike team, were “very happy” with their performance during the first stage of the Tour de France on Saturday.
«I’m very happy with my feelings, it gives me a lot of confidence for the next three weeks,” declared the Dane, two-time outgoing winner, victim of broken collarbones, several ribs and a pneumothorax in a crash in early April.
“I have the legs to play for the general but the final victory is something else again, I don’t know yet”added Vingegaard who crossed the line in a peloton of 46 riders, including all the favorites, five seconds after the winner Romain Bardet.
Third in the stage, Van Aert himself was very moved at the finish, wiping away a few tears with the back of his hand. “It’s a shame I didn’t manage to win, but considering where I’ve come from, it feels really good. I didn’t expect to be here at this level.”said the Belgian, who suffered multiple fractures in a fall in March. “Throughout the race, I could see that a lot of guys were suffering, and I felt good, he added. I gained confidence, especially in the last four climbs. I’m really proud of my performance.”
Pogacar happy with his first day, Evenpoel too
Tadej Pogacar, the big favourite, also had “a superb day”. “I tested my legs on the climbs and I felt good even in the heat, which is a bonus for me,” said the Slovenian who took part in the final sprint and finished fourth. He expects “a bigger fight” between favorites Sunday with “probably larger differences”.
As for Remco Evenepoel, eighth for his very first stage of the Tour, he declared that “The sensations were clearly better» than at the Dauphiné where he finished seventh overall.
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