‘The Dauphiné never lies’ – Jonas Vingegaard flanked by strong Visma team for pre-Tour de France test

Jonas Vingegaard will be joined by the American duo of Sepp Kuss and Matteo Jorgenson in a strong Visma | Lease a Bike line-up for the Critérium du Dauphiné, which takes place from June 8-15.

The race marks Vingegaard’s first competitive outing since he abandoned Paris-Nice with a concussion in March. The Dane was forced to miss the Volta a Catalunya later that month, and he chose not to add a replacement race to his schedule.

Vingegaard trained at altitude in Sierra Nevada last month, where he crossed paths with Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), his chief rival at the Tour de France. Pogacar is also in action at the Dauphiné, and it will mark the first contest between Vingegaard and the world champion since last year’s Tour.

Twelve months ago, Vingegaard missed the Dauphiné due to the injuries he sustained in a crash at Itzulia Basque Country. He previously won the Dauphiné in 2023 and finished second overall behind then teammate Primoz Roglič in 2022. Vingegaard went on to win the Tour de France on each occasion.

Jorgenson placed second overall at the Critérium du Dauphiné last year, and he returns to play a key supporting role here alongside Kuss. The Visma squad for the Dauphiné is completed by Victor Campenaerts, Ben Tulett, Attila Valter and Per Strand Hagenes. 

“Jonas won here two years ago, while Matteo was on the podium last year,” Visma directeur sportif Grischa Niermann said in a statement released by the team. “Those are things that give us confidence heading into this week.

“Jonas is of course our leader. The competition is strong – with Tadej Pogačar and also Remco Evenepoel – but we always focus on ourselves. It’s a great opportunity to see where we stand. We’re well prepared. Everything is on track.”

Visma’s line-up at the Dauphiné features four riders from their expected Tour de France line-up in Vingegaard, Kuss, Jorgenson and Campenaerts. The team for July is expected to be completed by Tiesj Benoot, who will ride the Tour de Suisse, and Wout van Aert, Edoardo Affini and Giro d’Italia winner Simon Yates.

The eight riders in Visma’s Tour squad are scheduled to assemble for a final altitude camp in Tignes ahead of the Grand Départ on July 5.

“The Dauphiné is ideal because it combines well with a final training block before the Tour,” Niermann said. “It has worked well for us in recent years – not just in terms of logistics, but also because the Dauphiné is a top-level race that never lies.”

The jousts between Vingegaard, Pogacar and Evenepoel next week will be analysed closely for trends and pointers ahead of the main event in July.

“If we don’t win the Dauphiné, it’s not the end of the world,” Niermann said. “Obviously, the bigger goal is the Tour de France. But we’ll do everything we can to win the Dauphiné as well. Wherever we race, we race to win. That’s the ambition we all share.”