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Jonas Vingegaard’s preparations for the Tour de France suffered a setback when he withdrew from Paris-Nice on Friday following a crash during Thursday’s stage. The Visma-Lease a Bike leader avoided fractures but sustained a severe contusion on his left hand. Team officials decided it was best for him to rest and recover at home, prioritizing his long-term goals over continuing the race. This incident raises concerns about his form as he gears up for a highly anticipated showdown with Tadej Pogačar at the Tour de France.
The crash occurred midway through Thursday’s chaotic stage, leaving Vingegaard in significant pain and prompting fears of a fracture. Despite finishing the stage, he was visibly in discomfort, and post-stage medical evaluations confirmed the hand injury. Initial X-rays revealed no fractures, but the severity of the contusion led to his withdrawal from Paris-Nice. Visma-Lease a Bike announced the decision on Friday, emphasizing the importance of recovery.
Teammate Matteo Jorgenson, who reclaimed the yellow jersey on Thursday, is now tasked with defending the title in Vingegaard’s absence. Meanwhile, attention shifts to Vingegaard’s next steps. His planned participation in the Volta a Catalunya, which begins in 10 days, remains uncertain. Visma-Lease a Bike has not provided specifics about how his schedule might be adjusted, but if recovery proceeds without complications, he could resume training soon with minimal disruption to his Tour de France preparations.
Vingegaard’s choice of the Volta a Catalunya is strategic, as the race’s milder weather and less severe profile make it a safer option compared to Itzulia Basque Country, where a crash in 2023 nearly derailed his Tour defense. This year, his preparation will also include altitude training, which will book-end the Critérium du Dauphiné in June.
The incident highlights the fine line elite athletes walk between pushing for results and managing risks. Visma-Lease a Bike can take solace in the fact that Vingegaard avoided a more serious injury, such as a wrist or hand fracture, which could have sidelined him for weeks. Such injuries can have long-lasting effects, as seen with Pogačar’s wrist injury from Liège-Bastogne-Liège in 2023, which impacted his performance at the Tour de France.
Pogačar, by contrast, appears to have emerged unscathed from a crash at Strade Bianche and will compete in Milan-San Remo next weekend. Among the “Big 4” of cycling—Vingegaard, Pogačar, Remco Evenepoel, and Primož Roglič—Evenepoel remains out of action following a serious crash in December and is not expected to race until April. Roglič, who has avoided crashes so far this season, is scheduled to compete at the Volta a Catalunya.
Vingegaard’s injury serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of professional cycling and the critical importance of recovery and strategic planning. As the Tour de France approaches, all eyes will be on how he rebounds from this setback and whether he can maintain his peak form to challenge Pogačar for cycling’s most coveted prize.
