Vingegaard keeps GC guard up for stage 18 as Tour plan stays on track
Jonas Vingegaard expects stage 18 of the Giro d’Italia to lean towards the breakaway, but the Dane warned that the general classification contenders may still have to stay alert on the steep final climb to Pieve di Soligo.
After Wednesday’s breakaway win, stage 18 from Fai della Paganella to Pieve di Soligo again points towards the attackers. It is not a mountain stage, but the uneven start and the steep Muro di Ca’ del Poggio inside the final 10 kilometres mean the GC teams still have to stay alert.
For Vingegaard, that profile points towards another opportunity for the attackers, provided no team takes control of the race for the stage win.
“I think it could end up being a breakaway stage,” Vingegaard said to CyclingPro.net before the start. “It also depends on if there is somebody who wants to control for the stage.”
Still, the final climb changes the equation for the GC teams. The Muro di Ca’ del Poggio is short, but steep enough to create splits if the pace is high or if a rival decides to test the group. With two major mountain stages still to come, it may not be the most obvious place for a GC move, but Vingegaard is not ruling it out.
“As a GC team we still have to be ready for this last climb in the end,” he said. “It’s quite a steep climb, so in any case we have to be ready for a bit of a fight.”
Vingegaard did not rule out GC attacks, but with two hard mountain stages still ahead, he suggested some riders may wait.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if we see attacks,” he said. “But on the other hand there are two hard mountain stages coming up, so maybe people will also save for the next two days.”
Vingegaard also offered a positive update on his wider Giro and Tour de France plan. The Giro has always been part of a bigger build towards July, and so far, the Visma Lease a Bike leader believes the race is serving its purpose.
“We made a plan and for this moment we are on track with the plan,” Vingegaard said. “Everything is going really well. My level here has been as we wanted it and hopefully afterwards I can take another step.”
After stage 17, the Dane also gave a glimpse of what his Tour preparation will look like once the Giro is over.
“I’ll stay home for two weeks, and then I’ll go to Tignes with my teammates when they come from the Dauphiné,” he said.
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