"Hopefully for us that's true!" - van Aert responds to Pogacar question but offers training warning for Tour de France
Cycling
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.
Wout van Aert responds to Pogacar criticism
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.
2026 Tour de France top contenders preparation
| Tadej Pogacar | Tour de Suisse (June 17-21) |
| Jonas Vingegaard | Giro d'Italia (May 8-31) - Won GC |
| Paul Seixas | Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (June 7-14) |
| Remco Evenepoel | No races - altitude training |
| Florian lipowitz | Tour of Slovenia (June 17-21) |
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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."
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- Who cares what Bruyneel thinks. He and his best mate Lance, the biggest fraud in the history of sport, have no place commenting on anything but how to lie and cheat!whit2pet02-11-2026
- Eeesh!Lozza02-11-2026
- bravo! a rider likes jonas needs motivation and he needs to believe in being able to reach goals. he - like anybody else in the world - doesn't believe that he can win the tdf with pogi present. and what's it worth for when pogi is not there? second class victory only. he has checked all three grand tours, so what is left if not retire? the classics! go for it, jonas!Ketterechts02-11-2026
- i am sure that under the pretext of medical examination a lot worse has happened when they were under.abstractengineer02-11-2026
- dude, Lemond never even was in the same race as Armstrong. He throws all these aspersions on other American riders who might usurp his throne as the greatest ever American racer. He doesn't say a single thing about (foreign) dopers who he actually raced against. Biggest douchebag move ever. I used to revere that guy, now I despise him. His actions are so weird.fatsupermodel02-11-2026
- This is just stupid, You do what you are good at not what you are weak at. He has no results to speak of when he participated. Even Froome, Conatdor had very little. With Pogi there he wont win none of the classics. he is already 30+ with a few years left at the top. It takes years to get good at classics. Is that really worth the effort???abstractengineer02-11-2026
- Sure, little fella.awp02-11-2026
- You'll be the ongoing joke of 2027 with anything you post here!frieders302-11-2026
- Awwww your inside information must be from PogiFanGirl. You two daughters of different mothers?frieders302-11-2026
- Hey PogIFanGirl...wipe that cream from your lips! You're ever loving drooling and whatever you have for Tadej has your brain fried!frieders302-11-2026
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