Visma-Lease a Bike has unveiled the lineup that will start from Barcelona on July 4th for the Tour de France. A team built around Jonas Vingegaard, determined to bring the yellow jersey back home after Tadej Pogacar's dominance in recent seasons.

The two-time winner of the Grande Boucle will be supported by an experienced formation, enriched also by new elements, to maintain balance and capable of supporting the Danish rider on every terrain of the race: from the mountains to the time trials, passing through the most nervous stages of the first week.

Among the most anticipated names is that of American Sepp Kuss, winner of the 2023 Vuelta a España and for years one of the most valuable men in the high mountains for the Danish captain. At his side will also be the experienced Victor Campenaerts, 34 years old, a crucial rider in the aggressive stages and in the windier flat days.

Great attention also for debutant Davide Piganzoli. The twenty-three-year-old Lombard protagonist of an excellent season, will race his first Tour de France after achieving eighth place at the Giro d'Italia and the overall victory at the Route d'Occitanie. For the young Italian, this represents an extraordinary opportunity for growth alongside one of the best riders of his generation.

Piganzoli will be called upon to put his climbing qualities at the service of Vingegaard in the hunt for that yellow jersey, which has been missing from the Danish rider's palmares for too long.

The main lieutenant of the captain, however, will be Matteo Jorgenson. The American, fourth at the recent Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, represents one of the most important cards of the Dutch team in the mountain stages and on the most demanding days. His steady growth in recent years has transformed him into one of Vingegaard's trusted men.

The selection also includes Bruno Armirail. The Frenchman, a time trial specialist but also capable of distinguishing himself on the hardest climbs, will race his fourth Tour de France in his career and will bring experience and solidity to the group.

Completing the roster will be two valuable resources for time trials and for work in flat stages: European champion Edoardo Affini and Norwegian Per Strand Hagenes, both fundamental elements in the team's strategy.

The presentation of the lineup was also an opportunity to hear from Jonas Vingegaard, who appeared particularly confident just weeks before the start of the Grande Boucle.

"I came out of the Giro in a positive way, winning five stages. So it was certainly a good race for us, which gave us confidence and the conviction that we can win the Tour de France as well", he said.

The Danish rider emphasized how the work carried out in recent months has strengthened the conviction of the entire group. "I have a lot of confidence in myself and this gives confidence to the others too, who truly believe in the plan we have and believe that it is possible to win the Tour de France again".

After the physical difficulties and injuries that characterized part of the recent seasons, Vingegaard feels he has returned to his best levels. "Since I lost the Tour and then won it last time, it has been a major objective for me. Of course, there have been many setbacks, but I feel that I have left them behind me now".

Words that tell the story of the determination of a champion who has never stopped believing in the possibility of returning to the top step of the podium on the Champs-Élysées. "It took me time, but now finally I feel like the same person I was before all these problems. And I feel like I'm even further ahead and even a stronger version of what I was before".

A statement that probably represents the most important message sent by Visma-Lease a Bike to its opponents and especially to Pogacar. The Danish rider feels once again at the peak of his abilities and will be able to count on a team built to support him in every phase of the race.

With Kuss and Jorgenson ready to guide him on the great mountains, with the experience of Campenaerts and Armirail, with the freshness of Piganzoli and with the support of Affini and Hagenes in the faster stages, Visma-Lease a Bike presents itself at the Tour de France with a single objective: to put Jonas Vingegaard back on the throne of world cycling.

From July 4th, on the roads that will take the group from Barcelona to Paris, a new challenge will begin among the giants of cycling. And Visma-Lease a Bike is ready to play all its cards.