"I hope for good feelings — that I’ll be strong as always" - Tadej Pogacar ready to make his mark on the Criterium du Dauphine

For the first time since 2020, Tadej Pogacar returns to the Criterium du Dauphine this afternoon. With his main Tour de France rivals Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel also present, the Slovenian will be looking to send an early message of his Maillot Jaune intentions.

"Yeah, it's been too long. I missed this race," Pogacar tells Cycling Pro Net from the start line of stage 1 of the 2025 Criterium du Dauphine in Domérat. "In 2020 it was a little bit different — I became fourth there. I hope I can improve that result this week. But if not, no worries. It’s kind of a preparation race for the Tour de France. We’ll see where we stand, and yeah, I just hope for a good sensation so I don’t need to do so much work after the Dauphiné."

As proven by the fact this is his first visit to the Dauphine since 2020, Pogacar is taking a different route to the Tour de France this year, one highlighted by a majority one-day racing calendar so far this season. "I’d say the time went too fast from Liège to here. I would wish for a few more days at home or something, but we’re here now and I’m looking forward to racing," Pogacar says of how he's spent his time since the Spring. 

And with stage 1 offering an immediate chance for Pogacar, many are expecting an early sign of intent from the UAE Team Emirates - XRG leader. "There are some small climbs in the end, but let’s wait and see. It’s the first stage race in Europe after a long, long time, so let’s take it controlled today and see how we feel," he concludes. "We’ll see today, and tomorrow, and the day after. But I think it should be okay. The shape is okay, and I hope for good feelings — that I’ll be strong as always in this race."