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"Jonas was really injured, really hard, but I think he’s going to be fine" - Tadej Pogacar on Vingegaard rivalry, emotions of losing Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana participation
CyclingWednesday, 26 June 2024 at 11:13
Tadej Pogacar is ready for the Tour de France and the riders are currently making their trip to Florence for the Grand Depart. UAE Team Emirates have shared an interview with the Slovenian with some of the fans' main questions and he answers them all in detail.
“Jonas was really injured, really hard, but I think he’s going to be fine. I think Jonas will be prepared and if he’s strong mentally and has recovered well then of course, I think we should be ready to see him at his best," Pogacar said in a long post shared by UAE. "We saw with Remco and Primoz that they were in really good shape at the Dauphine, maybe with Remco it was a little too soon to be flying 100% but Primoz was in really good form. I think they are all going to be at a top level at the Tour. I do think it will be a really competitive Tour, but you never know how your opponents are. Our bodies are unpredictable, last year I thought I was 100% but one day I was super good, and one day I was not ready.”
Pogacar is aware of the danger of his rivals including Dauphiné winner Roglic, Remco Evenepoel who can be a menace in the time-trials and hilly days, but most of all Team Visma | Lease a Bike who have suffered numerous setbacks but have nevertheless gathered a very strong lineup to support Jonas Vingegaard into the race.
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“It’s hurtful for someone like me when I lose the Tour de France, it gives me more motivation and hunger to win it again. For sure, the two second places give me more wood to put on the fire," he says. "You need to be ready on every stage during the Tour, you never know when your opponents will feel strongest – it could be week one, week two or the last week. I think every stage will be crucial this year – the whole team will be fighting for the same goal, fighting for the win.” This could start immediately this weekend with two difficult stages opening up the race with finales in Rimini and Bologna.
But the race should be decided only in the final week. “I think the difference will be the last three days, they are really, really hard. I think we could also maybe see some sprinters go home before Nice. Obviously, it’s going to be a lot of calculation for the last three days within the balance of the GC contenders, somebody might think to save the legs for the last day because they really have prepared a brutal time trial for us on the final stage which I think has changed the overall race a little bit.”
Pogacar, a resident in Monaco, will have the chance to race the final day of the race on literal home roads, and that adds a bit more motivation to carry the yellow jersey into the end of the Tour. “It’s special. This year I would sometimes go for an easy ride to Nice and back and you could see already they had a Tour atmosphere, even 5 months ago! You feel lucky to be there, and to finish there it’s going to be amazing. I think it’s going to be super-hot and humid; I know the conditions of July and August well and I think they’re terrible. There will be a lot of fatigue coming into play and with two climbs in the time trial, it’s going to be super tough, but afterwards I can just get on my bike, ride home and go to sleep!"
"I’ve worked a lot of hours outside of the bike and have also focused on the Time Trial bike a bit more as well, but I haven’t made any extreme changes – I am just a little more organized and structured in my training for the time trial, I got a lot of confidence back from the Giro after the disastrous world championships last year.” Pogacar also tackles the pressure aspect, as despite having raced a full Grand Tour already, he is touted to be the man to beat at this year's Grand Boucle.
“Everybody thinks I will win the Tour every year and I haven’t won the last two, there is obviously a pressure for the Tour always, it’s the biggest race in the world. Every year I am more mature and I’m learning from experiences and mistakes. You never stop improving mentally and physically and I believe that I’m in a good place. Of course, I want to have fun too, when I don’t have fun on the bike anymore then maybe I’ll retire so I want to have fun for as long as possible. I feel good but let’s see, diamonds are made under pressure.”
Is the Vuelta a España in the plans after racing the Tour? Even if Pogacar wins both, “I don’t think so, no," he responds. "One day I would love to wear the red jersey, but I can assure you that the Giro-Tour-Vuelta triple is not on the program this year. Winning every Grand Tour is a major goal for me, but to do it in the same year is perhaps a little too crazy. As you said it is also an Olympic year and there is the World Championships too. I think after the Tour we will see but the main goal will be the World Championships.”
There are still many goals left after the Tour starting with the hilly Olympics in Paris, but mainly the very difficult World Championships in Zurich where the Slovenian may carry the 'man to beat' status once again. “Last year I was 3rd in the world championships, and I would like to give it a go again. I really like the course this year, Switzerland is a nice country, and it should be good roads and nice small climbs, it’ll be a tough race. To have the rainbow jersey would be a dream”
“I can’t wait to see our fans again! The support they show to us every race is amazing and I can honestly say that we feel it at these big races, and it really does help us. I hope we can make you all proud. I’m excited and I feel good so I hope we can put on a show for you at the Tour de France," he concluded.
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