The big team prepared with methodical focus for the lap time trial, convinced that this phase would be decisive for Jonas Vingegaard to claim a second consecutive victory. Tadej Pogacar showed strength by winning the spring classics, and the yellow jersey was already a symbol of the relentless training in the Alps. Physically and technically, the plan was to punish the Tour in stage 16 when last Tuesday the Danish star overwhelmed his Slovenian rival who struggled in Courchevel the following day.
Mathieu Heijboer, Jumbo’s head of performance, traveled to France at the end of October last year to review every stage of the Tour on site. The most challenging moments of the 21-day race and the road to victory were assessed in depth. The only scheduled time trial of the test measured 22.4 kilometers and had to withstand pressure as the race reached its decisive moments.
What’s up with Jasper Philipsen and what is Jonas Vingegaard saying? The team remains eager for their insights.
De quoi parlente Jasper Philipsen et Jonas Vingegaard? Nous sommes tout ouïe. #TDF2023
—Tour de France™ (@LeTour) 21 July 2023
The spring campaign took Pogacar to the Alps in April, a period when the Slovenian focused on collecting accolades after a setback from a fall that followed a busy stretch including the Tour of Flanders, Amstel Gold Race, Fleche Wallonne, and Liege-Bastogne-Liege. Recovery progressed slower than expected, leaving him with only one month to prepare for the Tour.
During this time, Pogacar kept up with disciplined training on his time-trial bike, known affectionately as the goat. The sessions were blended with rapid climbing on a lightweight bike, roughly two kilos lighter than the standard time-trial bike. In this setup, he aimed to maintain the same wattage as in mountainous climbs, chasing the balance between power and aerodynamics.
Giro’s background
Jumbo adopted a similar mindset with Primoz Roglic, who sacrificed the Giro to gamble on the time trial scheduled the day after the triumphant journey through Rome on Mount Lussari. Roglic even used a purpose-built plate and gear setup designed for gravel bikes—the latest fashion among cyclists.
Jumbo’s approach in the Tour mirrored that intensity. The team also used a strategy from 2022, when the mountain stage of Granon was identified as a potential turning point. In that instance, cooperation and cunning were employed to maximize impact, with motivational coaching drawn from a noted football manager who advises the squad on peak performance techniques.
Near the finish, the rivalry intensified. The two leaders traded blows as the race advanced toward its final test. The team kept a tight focus on the bike Vingegaard would use for the time trial, planning a path to Domancy that echoed historical moments in cycling lore. The choice was between ultra-light configurations and robust acceleration, aiming to keep the weight as low as possible without sacrificing stability. In a decision aimed to favor speed on the clock, the team did not switch bikes, trusting the existing setup while weighing every gram of potential gain.
The plan also hinged on visibility and sponsorship considerations, with the team prioritizing performance and consistency over changes that could disrupt confidence. As the race moved forward, speculation about potential breakthroughs continued, and the outcome of the lap time trial remained a focal point for fans and analysts alike. The squad’s ambitions extended beyond a single stage, with hopes that a strong performance could seal a historic victory for Vingegaard while Pogacar remained a relentless challenger in the pursuit of overall glory. The narrative of the race was shaped by the balance of speed, endurance, and strategic patience, as riders navigated the Vosges and the climbs ahead with a keen eye on the clock and the overall standings. This dynamic, marked by tension and anticipation, defined the mood of the Tour in its climactic chapters and highlighted the evolving strategies that propel modern stage racing forward. A key question persisted: who would seize the moment in the last mountain test and set the tone for the final results of the race? Attribution: Tour de France archives.