Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) has said that he feels "like I'm an even stronger version" of his previous self as a rider following his Giro d'Italia victory.
The Danish rider will once again do battle with Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) for Tour de France glory next month as he looks to win the maillot jaune for a third time and prevent his great rival from winning a fifth title.
His previous two Tour attempts have come off the back of disrupted run-ins, with his 2024 coming after a serious crash at Itzulia Basque Country, and last year's race coming after he suffered a concussion at Paris-Nice.
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Vingegaard has had no such setbacks this year and has dominated all three races he's taken part in – Paris-Nice, the Volta a Catalunya, and the Giro d'Italia.
Speaking during his Visma-Lease a Bike team's Tour de France squad announcement livestream on Tuesday, Vingegaard said he's feeling better than ever.
"I have a lot of belief in myself, and that also gives the other guys belief. They really believe in the plan we have and also believe that it's possible to win the Tour de France again," Vingegaard said.
"It's now three years ago that I won it the last time. Ever since, it's been a big goal for me. Of course, there's been a lot of setbacks, but that's something I feel like that's behind me now.
"I grew back to being more myself again. It took me some time, but now I finally feel like I'm there, as the same person I was before all these setbacks. I feel like I'm an even stronger version than I was back then."
Vingegaard will be joined in France by American lieutenants Sepp Kuss and Matteo Jorgenson, and versatile rouleurs Edoardo Affini, Bruno Armirail, Victor Campenaerts, and Per Strand Hagenes.
Wout van Aert was ruled out of racing the Tour following a recent elbow injury, so Davide Piganzoli – who raced to eighth at the Giro while aiding Vingegaard's victorious ride – has stepped in as the Dutch team's eighth man in the battle against Pogačar.
Vingegaard said that his Giro win, achieved alongside Piganzoli, Kuss, and Campenaerts, had increased his motivation ahead of the Tour.
"It gave me some confidence for the Tour de France to come out of the Giro in a good way – winning five stages for me, one with Sepp, and the GC as well," he said.
"So, it was definitely a good race for us, giving us some confidence and belief that we can win the Tour."
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