"I have heard from several people that Pogacar will do so" - Tom Dumoulin hears whispers of bike change

The big question surrounding the stage 16 individual time-trial at the 2023 Tour de France is around the likelihood of bike changes, and whether or not Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard will indulge. Tom Dumoulin, has had his ears to the ground and heard some whispers.

“I know from a number of top riders in the rankings that they will not change," the former Giro d'Italia winner, who won three Tour de France stages and finished 2nd in 2018 during his own career, told De Avondetappe. Tadej Pogacar though was witnessed on the rest day practising the changing of bikes. Was this ready for the time-trial or was just mind games?

"I have heard from several people that Pogacar will do so,” answers Dumoulin. The slow bike change of Geraint Thomas in the decisive individual time-trial at the Giro d'Italia was one of the factors that took the Maglia Rosa out of hands, with Primoz Roglic taking the win.

Roglic's Jumbo-Visma teammate Jonas Vingegaard takes a 10 second lead into the time-trial over Pogacar and we soon find out if the bike change will pay off or not.