"Hopefully for us that's true!" - van Aert responds to Pogacar question but offers training warning for Tour de France

Wout van Aert is hoping that Tadej Pogacar hasn't chose the right path to this year's Tour de France, but has his doubts. Set to be a key man for Team Visma | Lease a Bike's mission to win a third Tour for Jonas Vingegaard, the Dutch team are bidding to break the UAE Team Emirates - XRG man's stronghold on the race.

Pogacar has won the past two editions of the grand tour in dominant fashion, with Vingegaard coming in second on both occasions. The 27-year-old is a rider for the whole year, however, and has become accustomed to racing van Aert in the spring at the front of affairs on cobbles.

And the Belgian, who edged Pogacar in a two-up sprint duel for Paris Roubaix in April, has no doubt that Pogacar knows what he's doing. The Slovenian opted not to ride the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes this week, instead he'll start the Tour de Suisse on June 17th - a race he has never won before.

Asked about Pogacar, a reporter inquired if van Aert thinks that the Slovenian didn't choose the correct preparation for the Tour. "Hopefully for us that's true!," van Aert smiled - seemingly brushing aside the suggestion.

This year's Tour de France has spurred debate about the best preparation for the showpiece, leaving fans with a suspenseful build-up to the big race.

All four of the top contenders have chosen to walk different paths to July 4th Grand Depart. Vingegaard rode the Giro d'Italia, Paul Seixas is in France with van Aert at the stage race, while Remco Evenepoel won't race at all before the Tour.

However, van Aert is certain Pogacar will arrive in Barcelona ready: "I think Tadej is by far the guy, I know, the best in preparing himself through training.

"If you see how good he is in the classics with barely racing. I think they [Ed. UAE Team Emirates - XRG and his coaches] know what they do."

Van Aert has endured a difficult return to racing in South-east France this week. After suffering a training crash last week, he has struggled in the opening three stages but inspired hope with an impressive showing in the bunch sprint behind Wednesday's Quinn Simmons breakaway win.

Head of stage 5, van Aert hoped for a chance to sprint for the win: "With the tough final weekend, this is my last chance, so it would be nice to sprint for the win this time."

He added: "The confidence has always been there. Today we are just trying to let it come down to a sprint again, but with the few sprinter teams present here, that is not always easy."