\n<\/p>\n
In the general classification, you would think an injury to the world\u2019s best rider might leave it a little lightweight \u2013 but if anything it could tee-up one of the greatest battles in the race\u2019s long history between the best four riders in the sport: Jonas Vingegaard, Tadej Pogacar, Primoz Roglic and Remco Evenepoel.<\/p>\n
Dane Vingegaard won last year by more than seven minutes over his only real rival for victory, Pogacar of Slovenia.<\/p>\n
But a harrowing crash<\/a> while competing in April in northern Spain had put Vingegaard\u2019s participation in serious doubt.<\/p>\n The 27-year-old is in Florence, Italy, for the Grand Depart, but has not raced since his accident.<\/p>\n After colliding with rocks at high speed, Vingegaard\u2019s injuries from the crash at the Itzulia Basque country were significant \u2013 fractured ribs, a broken collarbone and a collapsed and bruised lung. <\/p>\n Injuries which required surgery and ones which could temporarily impact on a rider\u2019s respiratory capabilities \u2013 even if someone with Vingegaard\u2019s huge VO2 max, external<\/span><\/a> would be expected to make a full recovery.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was probably the hardest moment in my career,\u201d said Vingegaard on Thursday, playing down his chances. \u201cI am looking for the best possible result in the GC, but it was a very bad crash, so just to be here is a victory in itself \u2013 everything from here is a bonus.\u201d<\/p>\n Vingegaard wasn\u2019t alone on the roadside in the Spain \u2013 Roglic, now of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe<\/a> and Belgium\u2019s prodigious Evenepoel, of Soudal-Quick Step, were also injured.<\/p>\n \u201cIt caused me to take some steps back,\u201d said former footballer Evenepoel, with half an eye on Belgium playing Ukraine during his press conference. \u201cBut I\u2019ve tried my best in training to improve.\u201d<\/p>\n The perceived wisdom was that an occasionally accident-prone Roglic and occasional steep climb-averse Evenepoel would normally be considered second favourites to the \u2018big two\u2019, but for Vingegaard\u2019s injuries and Pogacar\u2019s industry.<\/p>\n This year UAE-Team Emirates\u2019 Pogacar, 25, wants to claim a third crown and make history by winning the Tour and Giro d\u2019Italia in the same year.<\/p>\n Part one of that mission is already complete, winning the Italian Grand Tour by a staggering 10 minutes.<\/p>\n Problem is, he has started a Tour before, having thrilled everyone with his explosive riding earlier in the season, only to run out of steam when it really mattered in France. Last year, in fact, proclaiming \u201cI\u2019m gone; I\u2019m dead\u201d, on stage 17 in the Alps.<\/p>\n Plus, Pogacar this week said he was recovering from a recent Covid positive, which could be fine but of which any lasting effects is still something of a medical mystery.<\/a><\/p>\n Still, Evenepoel seems sure who is strongest: \u201cTadej is unreachable. He didn\u2019t have to go deep [to win the Giro]. It did not tire him out.\u201d<\/p>\n But that\u2019s not to say Vingegaard has been written off. There is an expectation in the sport that retribution is due from UAE after last year, when Visma-Lease a Bike (then known as Jumbo-Visma) deliberately rode very aggressively early on to tire out Pogacar following his own early-season injury.<\/p>\n Now, the boot is on the other foot: and many expect UAE to ride \u2018full gas\u2019 from the first stage to break Vingegaard.<\/p>\n Evenepoel says his team will not follow suit: \u201cLet them do what they want. I don\u2019t think Jonas will crack in the first days.\u201d<\/p>\n The circumstances around how this exciting potential four-way duel has come about is ironic at a time when cycling is under scrutiny for how many risks riders are expected to take to succeed on the road.<\/a><\/p>\n But it nevertheless leaves a crown-jewel sporting event very hard to call.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n