‘ASO no longer sees Vingegaard as Pogacar’s biggest rival’ - Rasmussen claims Tour route signals changing hierarchy

Michael Rasmussen has delivered a bleak assessment of Jonas Vingegaard's prospects at the 2027 Tour de France, suggesting the route reflects a changing hierarchy among the sport's leading general classification contenders.

Speaking on Viaplay's TV Udbruddet, Rasmussen argued that Tour organisers ASO have shifted their focus away from Vingegaard towards Remco Evenepoel and Paul Seixas in their attempts to challenge Tadej Pogačar's dominance.

"I don't think ASO sees Vingegaard as Pogačar's main challenger anymore," Rasmussen said.

The former Tour de France mountains classification winner believes the inclusion of 71 kilometres of predominantly flat individual time trialling, alongside fewer summit finishes, is particularly unfavourable for his compatriot.

According to Rasmussen, previous Tour routes were designed around characteristics that traditionally suited Vingegaard, including demanding summit finishes, high altitude and decisive mountain stages late in the race.

"In recent years, there has been a lot of emphasis on difficult summit finishes because those were Jonas' greatest strengths," Rasmussen explained.

"They had to come in the third week, at almost 2,800 metres of altitude, because Jonas was supposed to be the best at altitude, in the third week and on long climbs."

But Rasmussen believes ASO has now changed its approach after those routes failed to prevent Pogačar from dominating.

"Now they're changing direction. They are looking towards Seixas and Evenepoel, believing they might be better challengers."

"And that's how they do it, at the expense of making the route worse for Jonas Vingegaard."

The 2027 route features two relatively flat individual time trials, covering 38 and 33 kilometres respectively, which Rasmussen believes could significantly influence the battle for the podium.

While Pogačar remains the overwhelming favourite in his eyes, Rasmussen considers the competition behind the Slovenian much closer.

Rasmussen identified Evenepoel, Seixas, Isaac del Toro and Florian Lipowitz among the riders capable of challenging Vingegaard for the remaining podium places.

He particularly highlighted the progression of Evenepoel and the enormous potential of the younger contenders.

"I think Remco has cracked the code now in terms of how to prepare for the Tour," Rasmussen said, pointing to the Belgian's increasingly focused preparation.

As for the emerging generation, Rasmussen believes their ceiling remains unknown.

"You'd have to be very naive to believe we've already seen the best of both Del Toro and Seixas."

Asked whether he expects Vingegaard to finish on the podium in Paris, Rasmussen was unequivocal.

"No, I don't think so. I see greater potential in the riders coming up behind him."

The Dane went even further when asked whether Vingegaard could realistically win another Tour de France.

"No. I think that ship has sailed. I simply can't see him making the improvements necessary."

Despite his concerns for Vingegaard, Rasmussen believes the organisers' attempts to create a more competitive race are unlikely to threaten Pogačar's supremacy.

He suggested that even a route featuring substantially more time trialling would struggle to overturn the Slovenian's advantage in the mountains.

For Rasmussen, the real excitement in 2027 will be the fight for second and third place rather than the yellow jersey itself.

"Unless they organise an individual time trial on 21 consecutive days, I can only see one possible outcome of the Tour de France."

That outcome, he insists, is another victory for Pogačar.

"Pogačar wins it. He can only lose the Tour de France."