Jonas Vingegaard makes his debut in the Giro d'Italia with his sights set on the triple crown, a milestone only seven cyclists have achieved. His great rival, Tadej Pogacar, has yet to accomplish it. The Dane's decision to now race the Italian Grand Tour raises doubts: some see a master plan to use the Giro as preparation to dethrone Pogacar in the Tour, accumulating kilometers and adapting to varied terrain.
The Giro as a data laboratory: load strategy and adaptation 🚴
Vingegaard could use the Giro to accumulate competition volume in high mountains and time trials, two key terrains for the Tour. The accumulation of effort in long stages allows for adjusting aerobic power and recovery. Power and heart rate data on climbs like the Mortirolo would provide clues about his actual condition. This planned workload, with controlled intensity peaks, seeks to build a solid foundation without reaching overtraining, a fine margin that defines luxury domestiques.
The master plan: using the Giro so Pogacar gets bored watching TV 🍿
Vingegaard debuts in the Giro, and the conspiracy theory says he is not seeking the maglia rosa, but rather that Pogacar gets bored watching TV while he pedals. In other words, the Dane plans to arrive at the Tour with 3,500 more kilometers in his legs, and Pogacar, with 3,500 hours of sofa and popcorn. In the end, the Slovenian will arrive rested, but Vingegaard will arrive with the bike so integrated that he will even sleep on it. The triple crown, or the triple nonsense: that the rival falls asleep.