“This is great. I can’t describe it any other way.” Primož Roglič was a delighted winner at Plateau de Solaison, where he sealed the overall of the 2022 Critérium du Dauphiné by finishing 2nd in the last stage behind his Danish teammate Jonas Vingegaard. “We can all enjoy this,” the Slovenian leader of Jumbo-Visma insisted, stressing that “everyone has ridden great”.
Roglič brings home the yellow and blue jersey of the Dauphiné and naturally the attention turns to the yellow jersey of the Tour de France. “We also came here to prepare for the Tour de France,” he added as a fresh winner of the eight-day race to the Alps. “We are on the right track. We still have a few weeks to put the finishing touches.”
The Critérium du Dauphiné, a traditional rehearsal ahead of the Tour, has seen Jumbo-Visma show their finest display. Roglič's companions also shone, most notably Van Aert – with two stage wins and a green jersey he also wants to win in the Tour – and Vingegaard, 2nd in the overall, while the rest of the team controlled the race for a week.
“That gives me confidence in the run-up to the upcoming races,” Roglič added. “We will now enjoy this beautiful week, then rest briefly and train well with the team in Tignes.” Vingegaard was on the same page: “I did not have the best spring, but I think I am now on the way back. Last week I achieved a high level. That gives a lot of confidence for the coming weeks. I am thrilled with my stage win and second place in the general classification."
Turning the tables
Cycling history has demonstrated on countless occasions that a plan towards victory, as precise and efficient as it may be, can easily be derailed. Jumbo-Visma experienced it in the Tour de France, where they have become a dominant force in the last few editions but have seen the overall triumph escape them in spectacular fashion.
In 2020, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) turned the tables in the final time trial up La Planche des Belles Filles and took the yellow jersey his compatriot had been wearing for the previous 11 stages. Last year, Roglič suffered an early crash and eventually withdrew ahead of stage 9.
The boys in black and yellow bounced back in spectacular fashion as well, taking four stage wins (three for Van Aert, on all types of terrains, and one for Sepp Kuss over Pyrenean summits) while Vingegaard rose to 2nd place overall.
Roglič has now overturned his fate in the Critérium du Dauphiné (where he had to abandon while leading the race ahead of the final stage in 2020), as he did previously in Paris-Nice (where he lost the overall lead last year with crashes on the last day). He now aims to put behind his setbacks in the Tour, to add another Grand Tour success to his three La Vuelta victories (2019-21).
In the face of challenges
Recent weeks have also shown how things do not always go according to plan. In the spring, Roglič had to step aside from the Ardennes classics due to knee pains. “It hasn’t disturbed his training program too much”, Jumbo-Visma Sports Director Grischa Niermann explained during the Critérium du Dauphiné.
Last week, Jumbo-Visma withdrew from the Tour de Suisse after “Corona crept into the team again”, a release stated without specifying who among the riders or staff members had returned a positive test. “For the time being, the situation has no consequences for the Tour de France shortlist, although we have to wait and see what happens in the next few days.”
Rivals are also gearing up towards July. In the UCI WorldTour, Geraint Thomas and Ineos Grenadiers went all the way to victory in the Tour de Suisse. On home roads, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) had a blast in the Tour of Slovenia (2.Pro) with two stages and the overall win.
One certainty stands among disrupting factors: Jumbo-Visma have done everything in their power to prepare for conquest next month in the Tour de France.
🇫🇷 #Dauphiné
— Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) June 12, 2022
The picture says it all. 🤩#samenwinnen pic.twitter.com/zqCPvc2Rhj