PRESS CONFERENCE Marc Hirschi | "The dream would be to win a stage" - Swiss rider returns to race that marked his career

After two years of absence with UAE, Marc Hirschi is back to the race where he broke through in the international scene: The Tour de France. CyclingUpToDate was on site to listen to what one of Tudor Pro Cycling Team's leaders had to say ahead of the race.

The Swiss rider will be one of the many cards Tudor will have to play during this race - alongside Julian Alaphilippe and Matteo Trentin for the hilly days; Michael Storer for the mountainous stages and Alberto Dainese for the bunch sprints.

Answer: No, it's very special. I mean, it's a big race, biggest race. And as you said, 2020 has some nice memories and also the other years with Tadej [Pogacar]. So it's very special to be here again and I look forward to the race.

Answer: I mean, there's a lot of stages. I would like to go for stages. I mean, the first week is nice. Also then later to go in breakaways to see how the legs are. And for sure, the biggest goal would be to win a stage. We see how the level are, how the legs are. But for sure, I would like to be active and be part of the race and try to show myself the best way possible.

Answer: No, I think the first week is good. It will be hectic. I think also a bit dangerous in some parts. I mean because of all the stress everybody wants to be in front, the GC guys don't want to lose time. We checked the stage 2 yesterday and the final is super hard. Now it's also the wind will play a role. But definitely will be some hard days. And I think 2-3 days that fits well our team. So for sure there's a lot of opportunities. And it will be a hard and tricky start.

Answer: I mean, during the Tour we'll see who have the better legs. And then the first days, I mean stage 2 I think and stage 4 will be good for us. But then we just see in the final. I mean the goal is to position us in perfect position. And then in the race we speak. Also could be that one of us have super good legs so the other will set up something or maybe we try both. That will be discussed in the race but for sure the most important is that we are both there in the race. And then later, I mean it's more up to the breakaways. And sometimes it's very difficult to be in so it's good to play with two cards and try to jump in. But we will see in the race. And I mean if you have great legs then I will try to help him Or otherwise I won't.

Answer: I mean for me the dream would be to win a stage. That would be the biggest goal.

Answer: Yeah, I mean for sure for me I hope that in the second or third week that some breakaways have a chance to go to the finish. Because last year didn't happen that much. Because they control it quite good and go for stage. But for sure for us as a team it's better that some breakaways go to the finish and I mean the first days it's normal that everybody wants to go for the win, even the GC guys because there's yellow and everything still. And then later I just hope that some breakaways arrive.

Answer: No, not really I mean it's also decided by the race then how much they control or how the GC looks like, how much they really want to spend to go for the stage. But for us it's difficult because it's something we can't control. And actually how we race or prepare now didn't influence anything.

Answer: I think from the sporting side it doesn't affect too much now for us. I mean we have actually the same support, the same preparation. There is really I don't think a big difference, it's just they spend obviously more money on the salaries of the rider. But I think from performance wise it's the same. And we have the same, I don't think I fear any disadvantage of that.

Answer: I mean for sure he has a lot of experience in the Tour. And also he knows how things are going. And yeah I think that's the main thing. And also especially these first days he showed already that he knows how to do it and what's important, and I think the experience he can share with us.

Answer: I mean for sure it changed that more people know me. bcause the Tour was a bit outside of cycling. In cycling for sure it gave me motivation and also confidence that I can be there and I'm able to do it, to be there with the best. And yeah that also gave pressure from outside but also pressure to myself because I know that if everything goes perfect I'm able to be there. So yeah, but I mean that's part of cycling".