While the 21st and last stage of the Tour de France is being disputed this Sunday, the general assessment is no longer in doubt: the Jumbo-Visma has crushed this 2022 edition. Jonas Vingegaard will, barring a serious incident, win his first Tour and put hand on the polka dot jersey. Wout van Aert, he had no rival for the green jersey. A record to which must be added six stage victories (three for van Aert, two for Vingegaard, one for Laporte), while perhaps waiting for a sixth of prestige on the Champs in the afternoon with the insatiable Belgian rider . All this despite the withdrawals of Primoz Roglic and Steven Kruijswijk.
The history of cycling being what it is, followers asked the riders of the Dutch formation present in the press conference on Saturday if they could guarantee that they were not doping. Calmly, Jonas Vingegaard assured that he and his Jumbo teammates were “completely clean”.
“We worked so hard for this”
“I can guarantee it to everyone, nobody takes anything illegal, insisted the Dane. If we were so good, it’s thanks to our preparation. We do courses at altitude like no one does. We do everything we can in terms of equipment, training, nutrition. We are the best team for the preparation and that’s why you have to trust us. »
Wout van Aert, impressive winner of the time trial on Saturday, was more attacking. “I don’t even want to answer, it’s a shitty question,” he said. It comes back every time someone wins. Because we are efficient, should we defend ourselves? I don’t get it. We worked so hard for this. Cycling has changed, we pass checks all the time, all year round, we come to our house, to our house. We’re just training. And when you look at how the team has progressed in recent years, it’s not like it came from nowhere. »