Last year, Team Visma | Lease a Bike attempted to push Tadej Pogacar to his limits at the Tour de France, but the Slovenian champion emerged victorious. Victor Campenaerts, a key member of the team, reveals the intricate strategies employed to challenge Pogacar's dominance. While the team's depth allowed them to position Jonas Vingegaard effectively, their efforts went beyond that. Visma's performance team meticulously analyzed Pogacar's performance, exploring every possible weakness.
Campenaerts explains that the team's data analysts left no stone unturned, examining Pogacar's FTP (Functional Threshold Power) and the time he rode above it. They calculated the carbohydrate intake of both Pogacar and Vingegaard, aiming to understand their energy expenditure. The team's aggressive tactics, especially in hilly and flat stages, were designed to create a challenging moment for Vingegaard to exploit. However, Pogacar's resilience and consistent performance proved too strong, and Visma had to settle for second place.
Despite the setback, Campenaerts' performance was remarkable. He rode across all terrains, showcasing his best climbing numbers and contributing significantly to the team's morale with his daily vlogs. Campenaerts acknowledges the relentless improvement of top riders like Pogacar, Vingegaard, Evenepoel, and Van der Poel, making it increasingly difficult for teams to gain an edge.
Looking ahead, Campenaerts will continue to support Vingegaard in the Grand Tours, drawing on his experience in high-level team dynamics. He emphasizes the importance of not just watts per kilo but also the ability to perform under team management's instructions, riding until the last rider from another team is left behind. Campenaerts' insights shed light on the complex selection process for Grand Tours, where results and racing performance often take precedence over raw numbers, as Visma seeks to optimize its chances of success in the future.
