Miguel Indurain thinks that even for Tadej Pogacar "doing the Vuelta would be a bit crazy"

The former Spanish cyclist Miguel Indurain sees it as difficult for the Slovenian phenomenon Tadej Pogacar to also ride the Vuelta a Espana after having completed two more grand tours earlier that season, while he has no doubt that if the Dane Jonas Vingegaard turns up to the Grande Boucle he will be more than ready to give Pogacar a good run for his money.

"I think that Pogacar has already done the classics to the fullest, if he does the Giro and does the Tour, and has something to prove at the World Championships or the Olympic Games, there is a lot to do and doing the Vuelta would be a bit crazy," Indurain said in an interview with Europa Press.

Read also

"I am going to decide what I want my Tour to be this year. Nobody else" - Tom Pidcock keeps his Tour de France goals to himself

In addition, he ruled out that the 25-year-old cyclist would regulate himself during the Italian grand tour in order to reserve strength for the Tour de France. "The way he is and the way he rides, I don't think so. He is not a rider who stops and thinks about the future, but he goes day by day, and he has shown that with the exhibitions he has done every day," he stressed.

But at Tour de France, Pogacar will face a different kind of opposition. "Vingegaard is working hard for sure, he is a rider who has shown throughout his sporting career that he fights, that he fights, he sacrifices himself and he has always arrived in good condition," warns the five-time Tour champion.

"Going to the Tour just to go, I think he won't do it, he will go if he sees that he has options and that he can improve and rely on his team, especially the first two weeks to pick up the pace. I believe that if he shows up, he will do well and fight to achieve victory," Indurain assesses.

Read also

"I understand that people may have doubts, but I don't care" - Remco Evenepoel retains faith in Tour de France challenge despite more Dauphine time loss

PREVIEW | Criterium du Dauphine 2024 stage 8 - Can Primoz Roglic take key victory ahead of Tour de France?