On the eve of the final week, fighting spirit and belief drive Team Visma | Lease a Bike

“We’re certainly not giving the Tour away”, Vingegaard states with grit. The Dane, currently second overall, trails Tadej Pogačar by 4 minutes and 13 seconds. But there’s no sense of resignation. “I can still win the Tour. The gap is big, but I feel stronger every day. A lot can still happen.”

That belief runs deep within the team. Everyone knows the margin is significant, but the plan to turn the tables is in place. “We’ve had a tough week, including a difficult day for Jonas on Hautacam”, says Head of Racing Grischa Niermann. “We’re not entirely sure what caused that, but we’ve seen him bounce back. When that happens, you know anything is still possible. We certainly haven’t lost hope.”

“Ik kan de Tour nog winnen”

Jonas Vingegaard

The final week offers opportunities. With summit finishes at Courchevel (Col de la Loze), La Plagne, and Mont Ventoux, there’s no shortage of mountains before Paris. “You don’t claw back four minutes with one attack on a final climb,” Niermann says pragmatically. “But with courage, timing, and a strong team, it’s not impossible. We’ve been in these scenarios before. We’re not giving up.”

Van Aert, too, is recharged for the closing stages. The Belgian has yet to claim a stage win but senses his form improving. “The puzzle hasn’t come together yet, but I feel good. And as fatigue builds in the peloton, that could play to my advantage,” says Van Aert, who sees three remaining stages where he can contend. The Belgian is still chasing his tenth Tour stage victory.

But his focus extends beyond personal glory. “I also want to play my part for Jonas”, he says. “He’ll need to attack, and as a team, we’ll do everything to make that happen. An all-or-nothing move is on the table. If that means I need to be in the break, I’ll do it. My biggest contribution is giving everything when the team needs it most.”

“My biggest contribution is giving everything when the team needs it most”

Wout van Aert

Since the Grand Départ in Lille, the team has stayed true to its principles: animate the race, take risks, and own the responsibility. Even in complex situations—like last Sunday, when Vingegaard lost time after a crash—the squad continued to pursue multiple goals. “That was my call”, Niermann explains. “We came here with several ambitions, but one main objective. We trust each other and share the same desire: to win.”

Whatever happens over the next six days, Team Visma | Lease a Bike will fight until the end. For yellow, for stage wins, and for pride. “You only win the Tour in Paris”, Vingegaard says. “And we’re not there yet.”

Subjects

Cycling – World Tour men

Jonas Vingegaard
Wout van Aert
Grischa Niermann