Since the end of yesterday’s stage 2 of Tour de France 2023, commentators and fans have been discussing if Jonas Vingegaard should have supported Wout van Aert in the sprint finale of stage 2. It would appear some cycling analysts and fans have gotten greedy and believe in one-team-should-win-all tactics. 

It is important to remember that Vingegaard is not a sprinter and is not good at positioning himself in sprint finales. We recently witnessed this in the sprint for bonus seconds at the Jaizkibel summit – even a low-risk sprint that featured a low number of riders. 

Assisting Van Aert in sprints for stage victories might cost Vingegaard limited energy, but it would risk compromising his chances of renewing his status as Tour de France Champion.

A crash would be devastating for Vingegaard’s chances and for the Jumbo-Visma team as a whole – including their current sponsors and their pursuit of a new lead sponsor. 

Vingegaard’s focus ought to remain on the general classification victory in Paris, not on supporting teammates in their quests for one-stage wonders.

It should be remembered that Vingegaard kindly handed the stage victory to van Aert in the stage 20 individual time trial of last year’s Tour de France.

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