The long-awaited return to competition of Tour winner Jonas Vingegaard will take place this Thursday, February 22nd. The 27-year-old Dane from Visma-Lease a Bike will begin his title defense at the Spanish race The Gran Camino.
“I really had fun at the race in Spain last year. I won three stages and the general classification at the beginning of the season. The goal for this year is clear; let’s try to defend my title,” says Vingegaard on the team’s website.
Strict preparation and new name
“The last few months were dedicated to Training Camps, which went very well. In Tenerife, we put the finishing touches on preparing for the start of the season. After a great season in Spain, I can’t wait to start racing.”
This week it was revealed that Vingegaard has opted for a name change. His name is no longer Jonas Vingegaard Rasmussen, but Jonas Vingegaard Hansen, named after his wife, Trine Marie Hansen. This was reported on the website of the international cycling federation UCI.
Sports director reveals reason for choosing O Gran Camiño
“Once again we chose this game consciously”, reveals sporting director Robert Wagner. “The choice was made thinking about the big picture. After the race in Spain, two World Tour races are scheduled for Jonas in the spring: Tirreno-Adriatico and the Tour of the Basque Country.” “
“The Camiño is therefore an ideal preparation for completing the hard kilometers necessary after a period of training at altitude. Plus, we really enjoyed last year’s stage race.”
“The organization is excellent, the events are challenging and there is another time trial. This Time Trial is certainly very important considering the rest of the season. The Tour de France ends this year with a Time Trial to Nice”, concludes the sporting director.
