Stage 6 Controversy in the Tour de France

In a stunning rebuke, Bjarne Riis, the 1996 Tour de France champion and current team director, has harshly criticized Visma-Lease a Bike's approach during Stage 6 of this year's competition. Riis took to his column in B.T. to express his bewilderment over the team's aggressive yet seemingly misguided strategy.

The Bold yet Faulty Tactics

Jonas Vingegaard's team took a daring approach during the challenging stage from Bayeaux to Vire Normandie. They initially sent Wout van Aert into a breakaway, later joined by the 2025 Giro d'Italia champion Simon Yates. However, their efforts fell short, especially in keeping rival Tadej Pogačar from taking the yellow jersey. Their strategy ultimately failed by just one second.

Riis Questions the Game Plan

Riis did not hold back, stating, "I simply don't understand it. Why is Visma racing the way they are today? It ends up with a lot of wasted effort." He was particularly critical of Van Aert's tactics, suggesting he was racing like an amateur rather than waiting for a better opportunity to strike.

Advocating for a Strategic Focus

The only other Danish Tour de France champion shared that the team should concentrate on supporting their leader, Vingegaard. "It's always good for a team to win a stage," Riis conceded, but emphasized that Visma must adopt a more strategic mindset now to enable Jonas to recover lost time.

Vingegaard's Risk Aversion

While applauding efforts, Riis noted that Vingegaard needed to take calculated risks to shift the race's momentum. "In the pursuit of picking up minutes, he should be willing to lose seconds along the way," he added, critiquing Vingegaard's passivity on that day.

Pogačar Weighs In

The reigning race favorite, Pogačar, also expressed confusion over Visma's tactics, labeling them 'rubbish'. "They came up on the last two kickers, riding all out," he remarked, suggesting that the aggressive tactics may have even benefited him.

Visma's Response

In a counter to Pogačar's comments, Visma's race director Grischa Niermann stated, "We're following our own tactics and did exactly what we wanted. Period." The team had previously received accolades for their strategic plays earlier in the race, making their controversial tactics in Stage 6 all the more intriguing.

Looking Ahead

As the Tour de France continues, the debate over Visma's tactics remains alive. Van Aert seems undeterred, with plans to seize the moment as they head into Stage 7.