Team Jumbo-Visma CEO Richard Plugge and Tour winner Jonas Vingegaard Praise and Criticise Tour de France Route
For the first time ever, the Tour de France will start on Italian soil, and Team Jumbo-Visma CEO Richard Plugge and reigning Tour winner Jonas Vingegaard have shared their thoughts on the upcoming route.
Plugge speaks highly of the challenging course, saying, “It’s an incredibly challenging course from the first metre. As winners of the last two editions, we have high ambitions for next year.”
However, there is some criticism regarding the ninth stage of the race, which includes gravel roads. Plugge expresses his concern, saying, “I think it is a bit unnecessary. It increases the chance of bad luck. A ride like this, in my opinion, does not contribute to that.”
Vingegaard also shares his doubts about riding on dirt roads, stating, “It will be a new experience as it will be the first time I ride on gravel during a race. It’s a day where you can lose more than you can gain. We will have to make do with the choice of the course builders.”
Looking ahead to the rest of the race, Vingegaard is excited about the focus on the Alps and Pyrenees, saying, “The whole course is tailor-made for me. The third week is the main focus. We have to be on our guard from day one because there is no time to settle in. It’s still a while away, but I’m really looking forward to it.”
Plugge acknowledges that the course favors climbers, saying, “It’s really a climbers’ course. We feel very comfortable with it. Now that everything is known, we can start to prepare.” He also highlights the challenging time trials, which include a significant amount of climbing, with a total of 60 kilometers to be covered individually.
In addition to discussing the men’s Tour de France, ASO also revealed the route for the third edition of the Tour de France Femmes Avec Zwift. The race will kick off in Rotterdam for the first time and feature the iconic Alpe d’Huez in its final stage.
Overall, Team Jumbo-Visma is looking forward to the upcoming Tour de France, while also expressing some concerns about certain aspects of the route.
