'It often surprises me that people think it's all super serious for us' – Jonas Vingegaard's right-hand man Victor Campenaerts on Visma's Giro d'Italia build-up

Jonas Vingegaard, the pre-race favourite for the upcoming Giro d'Italia, has reportedly made a specific request for Victor Campenaerts to be part of his support squad. The Danish Grand Tour star, making his debut at the Italian race, is aiming to complete a full set of Grand Tour victories. Campenaerts, known for his time trial prowess and often jovial demeanour, will serve as a key domestique, a role he appears to have been personally selected for by Vingegaard.

This selection is noteworthy given Campenaerts' reputation for lightheartedness, which he himself highlighted, stating it "often surprises me that people think it's all super serious for us." Visma-Lease a Bike, under pressure to deliver another Grand Tour after a dominant 2023, is clearly leaving no stone unturned in Vingegaard's Giro preparation. The inclusion of a rider like Campenaerts, known for both his engine and his ability to maintain morale, suggests a strategic approach to team dynamics as much as pure climbing or time trial support.

Vingegaard's personal request for Campenaerts is a subtle nod to the psychological warfare of Grand Tours. A happy domestique is a strong domestique, and a strong domestique is invaluable.