"For sure you can win the Tour de France" - Pogacar on Remco Evenepoel

Tadej Pogacar has talked to the media whilst in Spain and between the topics he has talked about was the emergence of new young talents, and he did not miss on the opportunity to talk about Remco Evenepoel who he is set to face in the coming years.

"He won the Vuelta already and the Tour is a little bit different," Pogacar told reporters. "But I think if you can win a Grand Tour and be a World Champion then for sure you can win the Tour de France. This year he had a phenomenal year, but next year could be even better. He's going in the right direction."

The two have not actually faced each other much so far. At Tirreno-Adriatico the duo faced in the hilly stage but in the GC the Belgian was not a threat. Whilst Pogacar missed Liège-Bastogne-Liège and cracked at the Clasica San Sebastian, he targeted the Tour de France and Il Lombardia whilst Evenepoel rode the Vuelta a Espana and World Championships.

The two are also set to ride very different programs in 2023, as Evenepoel will target some early-season stage-races and the Giro d'Italia, and Pogacar will eye the spring classics, and Tour de France. However, both are scheduled to ride the UAE Tour, which could prove to be a very interesting race - that will, as always, feature other strong climbers.

Asked if Evenepoel would be the only young rider coming in to dispute his dominance in the mountains, the Slovenian answered: "No, there are also other riders coming now, even younger riders, maybe even stronger, you never know who's going to beat you next."