Bjarne Riis questions Visma | Lease a Bike's tactics: 'Then they won't be there for Jonas when he needs them'

Jonas Vingegaard has given himself a 1-0 lead over the competition after the demanding mountain stage to Blockhaus. The Dane won the stage and moved closer to the pink jersey — partly thanks to outstanding work from a dominant Visma | Lease a Bike. But Bjarne Riis can see a danger lurking in that very strength.

On Blockhaus, the Dutch squad took firm control. It was Davide Piganzoli who made a magnificent impression at the front, before Sepp Kuss maintained that relentless pace. It was then up to Vingegaard himself to make the difference — which he did with aplomb. Only Felix Gall could come anywhere close.

But with both Kuss and Piganzoli finishing as relatively high GC placeholders, Riis spotted a potential pitfall for Visma | Lease a Bike. "If they start chasing the team classification and want to be present on every hard stage, it could easily happen that they burn too much energy on a stage from which they can't recover," he said on his podcast Riis i Feltet. "And then they won't be there for Jonas when he needs them."

Riis drew a parallel with the 2023 Vuelta a España, where the Dutch team placed three riders on the final podium. It gave Sepp Kuss the overall title — but it was also a source of considerable debate. If Visma | Lease a Bike again try to place multiple riders high in the overall, it could end up costing them, Riis argued

Even so, the former Tour de France winner does not see too much danger in Sunday's mountain stage to Corno alle Scale. Is it hard enough for his compatriot to make a real difference? "I do think it's a stage where a breakthrough could happen," Riis said resolutely. "Absolutely. It is not an extremely high mountain, but it is still a climb that can produce decisive moments."

Many stage hunters will see an opportunity on a stage that is not overly demanding — but Riis sees it differently. He believes Visma | Lease a Bike, on the eve of the rest day and Tuesday's time trial, will want to go on the offensive one more time. "It could work in Jonas's favour if Visma don't try to dominate the stage too early and instead build towards the finale. In that case, I think he will dominate the final three kilometres."