Campenaerts more worried than Vingegaard over Giro time trial jersey

That possibility seems to be occupying Victor Campenaerts more than Vingegaard himself. That is hardly surprising. The Belgian has built much of his career around the search for marginal gains. Position, clothing, equipment, pacing and even shaving nasal hair have all been part of that endless hunt for extra gains.

Before the Blockhaus stage, Campenaerts had already made Visma’s preference clear.

“We want to ride the time trial in the suit where a lot of time and money has been invested,” Campenaerts said to Het Nieuwsblad. “It would be frustrating to have to ride in a suit provided by the organisation.”

After stage 8 to Fermo, the issue returned. Vingegaard still holds the mountain jersey by a single point, meaning he could be forced to wear blue in the time trial after the rest day.

“That was not how we had planned it. We overlooked it a little,” he said to Sporza.

Vingegaard himself appears far less concerned. According to Campenaerts, the Dane simply pointed to his past performances in special jerseys.

“Jonas said: ‘I have ridden my best time trials in a leader’s jersey.’ The aero coach will probably have something to say about that, but it is what it is,” Campenaerts said.

There may still be a way out, and Campenaerts is not ready to give up on it yet. With only a one point lead in the mountain classification, Vingegaard could still lose the jersey before the time trial.

“Maybe tomorrow is still a chance to hand over that jersey,” he said. “Or maybe there are other possibilities.”

The jersey was not the only small complication for Visma during the stage. On a day that was expected to favour the breakaway, the race briefly turned uncomfortable when a dangerous group slipped away with several general classification names in it. Vingegaard was not part of it, forcing his teammates to react.

“It was not an ideal situation, but I think we got it under control quite quickly,” Campenaerts said.

There was no panic, he insisted, even if Visma had been caught out for a moment.

“We had missed the lesson for a bit, but luckily we were able to catch up in the tutoring session,” Campenaerts joked.

The scare passed, but the blue jersey question remains. Vingegaard may shrug it off. Campenaerts, as ever, seems to see the seconds hidden in the fabric.