Wout Van Aert, who is aiming for the green points jersey in the Tour de France, emphasized the merits of Christophe Laporte while appealing for dedicated support as Jumbo Visma management ponders the final lineup of eight riders

for selection to the 11-man long list. The team's decision to go public has caused a stir and there is talk of a positional battle. Rather than being a doubt about a particular player, it is an insurance policy against COVID-19 cases and other injuries and illnesses. Barring a dramatic change in form, the members of the team are largely set.

Van Aert (opens in new tab) is one of three guaranteed starters for Jumbo Visma, who, along with Primoš Roglic and Jonas Vingegaard, will challenge Tadej Pogachar (UAE Team Emirates) for overall victory at the Tour de France. (opens in new tab)

Team director Meirjn Zeeman indicated that three more names are almost certain to be selected: Rohan Dennis, Sepp Kuss, and Steven Kruijswijk.

Kruijswijk and Kuss have both brushed off doubts over their positions in recent days, saying they have nothing to prove. Kruijswijk proved that his selection for the Tour de France is not in doubt by ruining the GC riders on the final day of the Criterium du Dauphiné. Kuss will compete in the Tour de Suisse.

Dennis is said to be working through stomach issues at the Tour de Suisse, and if fit, his horsepower is assured in the mountains as well as on the flat, as he set up Tao Geoghegan Hart's victory at the 2020 Giro.

That would leave five riders for the remaining two slots: Laporte, Tiesj Benoot, Robert Gesink, Mike Tunissen, and Nathan van Hooydonk.

The two most likely candidates are the former two. The latter two contracted COVID-19 at the recent Tour of Norway, which drastically reduced their chances. Gesink, on the other hand, may be the victim of renewed attention to the green jersey.

"I think it's important to have a rider who can take care of himself in the intermediate sprints and group sprints," Van Aert told reporters, including Cyclingnews, after winning the green jersey at the Dauphiné.

Van Aert had already praised Benoot earlier in the week, highlighting the Belgian's versatility and ability to contribute to both the yellow and green jerseys.

After the Dauphiné, he said similar things about Laporte. Laporte can also function as a lead-out man and appears to have an advantage over Tunissen in his current situation.

"We have proven here and in other races that we have versatile riders. Not only me, but also riders like Christophe, who can ride with the last 50 guys when it comes to the climbs and is one of the fastest in the group sprint," Van Aert said.

"A rider like him can use any terrain. On a course like the Tour this year, you need a rider like him."

The Criterium du Dauphiné was something of a touchstone for the Tour for Jumbo Visma, who is aiming for both yellow and green.

Although he looked a bit sluggish in the chase during several shortened sprint stages, the result was a one-two finish on GC for Roglic and Vingegaard, while Van Aert won two stages and took the green jersey.

"It was a great confidence boost to end the week like this in the Dauphiné. I think the Dauphiné is one of the hardest stage races of the year. We are in a good place," Van Aert said.

"The strength of the team is a big advantage over previous years. This will be the key to the Tour."