07/06/2023

"I'm not worried that he won't hit form" - UAE Team Emirates teammates confident that Tadej Pogacar is on the right track to Tour de France

Tadej Pogacar has only recently returned to the road but will soon be hitting good form, according to teammates Mikkel Bjerg and Rafal Majka. The duo are at the Criterium du Dauphiné this week away from their leader, but they are certain the preparation is in the right bath.

"It goes well. I saw he was out training really well yesterday (Saturday, ed.), so I'm not worried that he won't hit form. He smashes us when we train with him, so we take it in turns to take a day where we sit with him, and then you have to take a few rest days afterwards," Bjerg said in an interview with TV2 Sport, before giving his opinion on the Slovenian's plan of using training to prepare for the Tour.

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"There is some risk associated with riding these races, but he can train really hard too. I think that when you have the level that these top GC riders have, then many of these race kilometers are a waste of time - that is, when you sit and ride in the field, you can they actually train at home better themselves."

Pogacar will be racing the national championships ahead of the Tour, however will not take part in any stage-race as his specific preparation for the Tour has had to be shortened due to the need to recover from his wrist injuries. He's currently training at altitude with Tim Wellens in Sierra Nevada and will then recon some of the Tour's stages.

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"We know that Tadej has had a little break, but I think it is good for him to have a break so that he can be fresher for the Tour," Rafal Majka said of his teammate. The injury came in a time where the Slovenian was already meant to have time off the bike, but as his teammates trained at altitude in May, Pogacar was still at home in the rollers. This may see him coming to the Tour undercooked, even if he is well capable of reaching great form without racing.

"It's Tadej Pogacar. We know he has great talent. I've already been training in Sierra Nevada and I've gotten a lot stronger. He is a big favorite for the Tour," the Pole concluded.