We knew it, Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease A Bike) certainly had the best team in Tour de France in high mountains. Even if it did not tip the general classification in its favor, the Visma | Lease a Bike was often overrepresented at altitude, thanks in particular to Sepp Kuss, Matteo Jorgenson, Simon Yates… et Victor Campenaerts. Indeed, we rather expected the former European champion of the time trial riding in the plain and at the foot of the passes, but the Belgian turned out to be one of the best mountain teammates of the Danish, sometimes always in contact with the favorites while some of the best climbers of the peloton were distant. On that Tour de Francethe 33-year-old roller discovered the qualities of climber that he himself did not suspect, the fruit of very specific work upstream of the Large loop and on which he returns in the columns of Directo.
VIDEO – Victor Campenaerts even failed in Carcassonne
“All runners must be able to climb”
“There was a little criticism initially, it is true. But I think that today, journalists who doubted recognize that it was perhaps unjustified. I understand their point of view, but the team, she knew what she was doing” starts Victor Campenaertsnot expected as essential support in the mountains. But the former stage winner in France has worked a lot to support Jonas Vingegaard In the heights: “90% of the training was focused on the mountain. When you go to the turn with the ambition to play the general classification with Jonas, all the runners – except Edoardo Affini, who takes care of the flat kilometers – must be able to climb well. ”
And the results of this work were seen: “On an off -category collar, I ended up with the top fifteen climbers in the world. It was a great feeling. It is true that I did not expect to climb as well. Already in the Dauphiné, I felt at my best level in the mountains, but here it was even better than expected.” But do not see in these performances a change of runner profile: “I do not want to become a climber to climb strictly speaking. My ambition is to be the best team possible in a big tour. And for that, you have to be able to follow in the mountains. I hope I can continue to go to the Tour de France and fight for the victory with Jonas. “ The Belgian has already made an appointment with the future, why not next year? While waiting to rebound for the victory on the Tour de France, Victor Campenaerts should go to the roads of Renewi Tour From August 20, before going to Rwanda to take part in World championships.
