Philippe Gilbert reckons Jumbo-Visma should attack Tadej Pogacar from day 1: "If Pogacar is not ready, it will be in the first week"

Eurosport cycling expert Philippe Gilbert believes that Team Jumbo-Visma should attack Tadej Pogacar early at the Tour de France to test the Slovenian, who is coming back after a wrist injury from Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

He looked in good form when he won both the Time Trial and Road Race but speaking on a media call before the Tour, Gilbert still thinks that Jumbo should test him early. "Everyone saw the problems of Pogacar from Liege and his recovery process," explained Gilbert.

"OK, he won both Slovenian championships but the level there is not at the highest of the World Tour. They have a good quality of riders but not the highest level. So those wins don’t show too much."

"Because if Pogacar is not ready, it will be in the first week. He will be searching maybe for some speed in the legs, maybe some competition rhythm. And if you let him come back into the race, it will be too late. I expect Jumbo-Visma to go full from Day 1 and give him as much a gap as possible and hoping he will not come back before the end of the Tour. So I think it will be an interesting start to the Tour."