The toll has risen and the horizon has darkened for Jonas Vingegaard. The rider from the Visma-Lease a bike team, caught in the terrible fall of the 4th stage of the Tour of the Basque Country last Thursday, suffered several broken ribs, a fractured collarbone but also a pulmonary contusion, lung injury, and pneumothorax. The two-time Tour de France winner is still in hospital.
Also read “I saw the guys flying in front”: at the heart of the terrible fall that mowed down Vingegaard and Evenepoel
And according to the boss of the Dutch team Merijn Zeeman, interviewed by the Belgian media Het Laatste Nieuws, the news is not reassuring. Participation in the Grande Boucle, which will depart from Florence (Italy) on June 29, appears hypothetical for the moment. “I received an update from Jonas’ wife on his health,” he explained. He is getting better every day but is still in the hospital. That says enough. For the moment, Jonas is not wondering whether or not he will participate in the Tour. »
Thin hopes for Wout Van Aert at the Giro
The deadlines already seem too short for the Danish champion to participate in the first Visma-Lease a bike preparation course at the beginning of May in preparation for the Tour. Merijn Zeeman also gave news of Wout Van Aert, who had fallen heavily a few days earlier in the classic A Travers La Flandre. Successfully operated on on one shoulder due to several fractures, the Belgian is resting with his family. But his hopes of participating in the Tour of Italy (May 4 to 26) seem to be dwindling. “The timing is starting to be very short to see Wout at the Giro,” said Zeeman. This week we hope to get a glimpse of what is possible for Wout and what is not. But one thing is certain, if he starts the Giro, it is that he is 100%. You don't send such a rider on a Grand Tour just to ride. »