Visma laments Vingegaard's withdrawal: 'It's a shame, he felt very good'

The Tour de France peloton and the Visma-Lease a Bike team were shaken by the crash and subsequent withdrawal of Jonas Vingegaard. The Danish cyclist, a two-time winner of the prestigious race, suffered a fractured collarbone and multiple abrasions in a mass pile-up with 22 kilometers remaining in the stage.

Visma team director Marc Reef lamented the incident, calling the Tour their "big goal of the year." He noted that Vingegaard was performing well and the team was on track to achieve their objectives, with riders Victor Campenaerts and Bruno Armirail leading the stage and the team controlling the rear. "It's a real shame," Reef said, emphasizing that Vingegaard "felt very good" and Sepp Kuss was also prepared to support him.

The team did not link Vingegaard's accident to a surprise anti-doping control he underwent hours earlier. Reef recounted seeing Vingegaard suddenly on the asphalt, realizing immediately he couldn't continue. Despite a 4 minute and 30-second deficit to rival Tadej Pogačar, the team had maintained hope for a comeback in the upcoming stages.

Matteo Jorgenson, a key domestique for Vingegaard, expressed deep disappointment. "We are all very disappointed. Now we have no plan B, we bet everything on Jonas," he stated, adding that cycling can be "shit" sometimes. The team's focus was entirely on Vingegaard, making his withdrawal a significant blow.

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Un accidente siempre puede ocurrir. No sé qué ha podido ocurrir. Desde el coche lo vimos de repente tirado en el asfalto, pero enseguida nos dimos cuenta de que no podía subir a la bicicleta