Tour de France 2023: 'Could have changed the outcome' - Did Jonas Vingegaard let Wout van Aert down?

Jonas Vingegaard «could have made the difference» for Jumbo-Visma team-mate Wout van Aert in the Stage 2 sprint, says Eurosport expert Robbie McEwen, had he contributed to the chase of winner Victor Lafay (Cofidis). With three team-mates in the front group as they headed towards the finish in San Sebastian, Van Aert was the overwhelming favourite to take a 10th stage victory at the Tour – even when Lafay launched off the front with 1km remaining.

Ad But with Wilco Kelderman fading and Tiesj Benoot flagging after earlier efforts, only Vingegaard seemed primed to aid a Van Aert chase. Tour de FranceLafay stuns Van Aert on Stage 2, Pogacar takes 12 bonus seconds3 HOURS AGO Except the Dane never came through as Lafay claimed an unlikely ambush win, with Van Aert left swiping the air in frustration – something that was later mocked by Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) – as he came home in second place.

It sparked a big discussion on The Breakaway after the stage, with McEwen and Adam Blythe suggesting Vingegaard should have come to the aid of his fellow Jumbo-Visma superstar. «Had he led through the final corner with Wout on his wheel at 600m to go, he could have changed the outcome for Wout van Aert,» said McEwen.

«That's the criticism he's going to get and I think it's just. In this situation today, it wasn't a really uphill finish, he wasn't at risk of losing time, he could have made the difference and he didn't.» Discontent has already surfaced in Van Aert's native Belgium over Vingegaard's lack of assistance on the opening stage in Bilbao, which saw twins Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates) and Simon Yates (Jayco-AlUla) get clear before claiming a famous one-two.