Vingegaard back on bike outside, hopeful for Tour defence

Jonas Vingegaard on Tuesday completed his first outing on a bicycle a month after a horrific crash and insisted he was hopeful of bidding for a third straight Tour de France crown.

"Of course I hope to be there at the start of the Tour de France," the Danish Visma-Lease a Bike rider said in a video posted on X, formerly Twitter.

"We don't know exactly how my shape and recovery will go but I will do everything I can to get there," he added of the June 29 to July 21 race.

Jonas is back riding on his bike outside again. 🤩🐝

Hear what he has to say about his recovery and the Tour de France. pic.twitter.com/Rf1d3odoeM

— Team Visma | Lease a Bike (@vismaleaseabike) May 7, 2024

The 27-year-old was hospitalised after suffering rib and collarbone fractures and sustaining lung damage in a mass crash on the Tour of the Basque Country on 4 April.