Ambitious Vingegaard looks forward to season opener at Paris-Nice
# Vingegaard Eager to Kick Off Season at Paris-Nice
Jonas Vingegaard is poised to launch his season with high hopes as he gears up for the prestigious Paris-Nice race. “I feel good,” he stated, highlighting a productive winter of training. “I’ve had a strong winter, training has gone very well, and we’re starting with a strong team. Of course, the first race of the season is always exciting, and the competition has more race kilometers in the legs, but I’m really looking forward to riding this beautiful race.”
Vingegaard has set his sights on victory, asserting, “Whenever I line up at the start, I always want to go for the win.” His determination aligns with that of Team Director Marc Reef, who emphasized the team’s ambitions: “We want to go for a strong general classification and be in contention for the win. Paris-Nice is always a nervous race, so it’s important to stay alert in every stage.”
The challenges ahead in the French stage race are manifold, particularly with the team time trial scheduled for day three. Reef noted the importance of this segment, saying, “The course is tricky, but I don’t think there are any extremely tough mountain stages where big gaps can be made. That makes the team time trial extremely important.” Last year, Team Visma | Lease a Bike took home the win in this event, a key goal for the team again this year.
Reef further mentioned, “We’ve studied the course carefully and already trained in our formation. We have a very strong team with plenty of powerful riders, but the course is quite technical. Still, I expect that with our experience we can put in a strong performance and get Jonas to the finish as quickly as possible.”
The team time trial is expected to bolster Vingegaard’s chances for an overall strong finish. Reef remarked on Vingegaard’s readiness, stating, “Jonas comes out of a good training block. Of course, he faced a setback that forced him to miss the UAE Tour, but he’s trained well and is in excellent shape. How that compares to the competition remains to be seen, but we fully expect to be in contention for the overall victory.”
Team Visma | Lease a Bike has assembled a formidable squad to support Vingegaard, which includes Edoardo Affini, Bruno Armirail, Wilco Kelderman, Davide Piganzoli, Axel Zingle, and Victor Campenaerts.
As the team prepares for the challenges ahead, the anticipation builds for a thrilling start to the cycling season at Paris-Nice.
