«Three months ago I lay more dead than alive in a Spanish hospital room, immobile in bed for two weeks. After learning to pedal again, I only started training well at the end of April. Being here in Florence is a miracle, everything that comes to me is a gift.” More emaciated, sharper, laconic than usual, Jonas Vingegaard reappeared in public after the accident at the Tour of the Basque Country only yesterday at Palazzo Vecchio. He has won the last two Tours de France but has no predictions for this one. «I come out of the most difficult moment of my career – explains the Dane – happy to have immediately understood that I had to fight and not feel sorry for myself. I prepared well, but I hide deep wounds that only the road will be able to evaluate.”
His Visma is patched up: the very strong climber is absent Sepp Kisssickly, present but “in the worst shape of my six Tours” the raptor Wout Van Aert. The Dutch team has raised a storm by explaining that a van “full of cutting-edge technology will follow the race to monitor the athletes and give them the best possible tactical advice”. The analysis of data during the race (heart rate, power, blood sugar) is strictly forbidden by regulation, the International Cycling Union has said it is ready to dismantle the bus in search of devilry. Behind the news is perhaps an advertising assist in favor of a sponsor betting agency: sitting in the van there is a guy who limits himself to measuring the winds and calculating the gaps. What’s new?
Not to be outdone by his colleague, Pogacar also showed up at the press conference with an unsolicited hospital news item: «I had Covid». When, Tadej? «Ten days ago». Were you sick? «A little bit. But after a day of rest and one of rollers I was back in the saddle». Sigh of relief. After the devastating show of strength of the Giro, Pogi is expected to win 3-2 against his enemy Vingegaard. «I respect Jonas a lot – explains the Slovenian – and I’m happy he’s here but we practically don’t know each other: for four years we’ve only raced against each other for three weeks a year». He, Vingo, he precised of “not having received messages from Tadej after the accident. Anyway, I don’t have his number, he doesn’t have mine.” An exchange of contacts is urgently needed.
The third wheel, that Primoz Roglic who with a victory would make a hat-trick with the Giro and the Vuelta, expresses as always non-precise concepts («The Tour is long, the one who holds out best in the three weeks wins») but proudly shows the giant Red Bull logo on the new Bora jersey: the entrance of the energy drink giant into cycling is a step forward for the global visibility of the discipline.
After an amazing evening presentation in an unfortunately not packed Piazza della Signoria (let’s forget the huge crowds of Brussels and Copenhagen) the 176 heroes of the Tour rest today. Tomorrow we start by pedaling towards the Pantaniland in Rimini: the first yellow jersey is up for grabs on the ramps of the Barbotto pass, very dear to the Pirate.
