Tadej Pogacar to understand evolution in injury on Monday - "Then we will know how well the bone has healed"

Tadej Pogacar has broken his left scaphoid and lunate bones, injuries which have left a dark spot in an otherwise brilliant spring. Although at the 'perfect time' where he ends up not missing any competition and taking rest when it was already planned, the Slovenian has to endure a lengthy recovery.

"I've been training outside for a week now and my wrist feels better and better every day. During this altitude training I try to get as much out of it as possible. I have the best care here in terms of massages and physiotherapy," the Slovenian said in a press conference. "Yes, there is still a lot of work to be done. I probably won't ride the Tour of Slovenia."

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In the press conference hosted by the team online, Pogacar who is in Sierra Nevada has admitted he will ride the national championships. That should come as a bit of competition before the Tour de France, in a run-up that also includes a few more weeks at altitude and then recon of several Tour de France stages. He has not done aero testing as usually predicted, as well as take part in the team's main camp that took place over May. He is joined by Tim Wellens currently.

"I have lost a number of training sessions and that is why I have to focus mainly on interval and endurance training in the open air in the coming period. But I feel good otherwise. I also tried to relax a bit, although I started training at home in the second week after my fall," he continues. "My motivation has always been high. I have a new CT scan next Monday and then we will know how well the bone has healed.”

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So far the recovery has been on track but in Monday comes an important milestone. He has mentioned how he does mainly seated efforts for the time being, and cannot risk prolonging the injury since it already put him in a tight position for the upcoming month.

“In these first days outside on the bike, that is a factor. First of all I have to say that I was not allowed to cycle outside for the first six weeks. Still, I started after five weeks. That's kind of stupid to ignore the doctor's advice," Pogacar concludes. "I just pushed my team – and everyone else – if I could try to ride the bike outside. The first days I was very careful.”

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