Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes team time trial provides perfect Tour dry run for favourites Visma

Visma | Lease a Bike is setting its sights on a strong result at Tuesday’s team time trial at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. That is why the team chose to save its energy in Monday’s second stage.

The riders faced a long day in the saddle over 234 kilometres. Once the early break had gone, it quickly became clear that there was little appetite in the peloton to reel it back in, allowing the escapees to fight for the stage win.

For Visma sports director Maarten Wynants, that was a logical way for the race to unfold. “This stage could have gone in different directions, but in the end it was logical that the early break stayed away today,” he said on the team website.

“With tomorrow’s team time trial in mind, few teams were interested in taking on the chase. It was not up to us to sacrifice riders in the peloton. In this way, we were able to save energy for tomorrow.”

The team time trial is considered an important test for the opening day of the Tour de France. At the start of July, Barcelona will also host a team time trial. The routes are fairly similar in terms of the climbing on course, although the one in Auvergne is slightly longer at almost 30 kilometres.

For Visma | Lease a Bike, the team time trial matters not only because of the Tour, but also because it offers leader Matteo Jorgenson a chance to get into a strong position for the overall win. Time trial specialist Bruno Armirail looked ahead. “We are at the start here with several riders who will also ride the Tour de France later, so tomorrow’s time trial is definitely a good test.”

“You can view it as a dress rehearsal,” Armirail continued. “But the main thing is to deliver a strong performance tomorrow. We are aiming for a top result. On paper, this course should suit me well, but we also have some strong climbers in the team. It will be hard, but I will do everything I can to follow them uphill and make my contribution,” he concluded.

Author: David Bavin-Hobbs - [email protected]