Tim Wellens has proven to be a very effective teammate for Tadej Pogacar in the spring classics and although the team has other weapons for the high mountains, the Belgian is looking to be an important rider for the flat and hilly days, and assured the Slovenian is in great form entering the race.
"I'm not going to tell you everything, but Tadej Pogacar is doing very well. He was a little sick at Isola 2000, but he then produced impressive values in training and I think he is very, very ready for this Tour de France," Wellens said in words to Cyclism'Actu. This is despite Pogacar's recent Covid-19 infection, which the Giro d'Italia winner brushed off in the approach to the Grand Boucle.
The Belgian, recently crowned national time-trial champion, has had a strong spring with results added to his own palmarès, but throughout the next three weeks he will be in charge of supporting several leaders in UAE Team Emirates including Adam Yates, João Almeida and Juan Ayuso. However the team agrees that Pogacar is their best option and a hierarchy slowly forms itself.
The 33-year old is a very experienced figure and could also be key for days such as the gravel stage and the hills that will present themselves throughout the first two weeks of the race. A lover of the rain and bad weather, he admits that he will face difficulties already on the first day of the race which starts in Florence - where the team presentation took place last afternoon - and the city of Rimini over 200 kilometers later.
"The first few days are going to be difficult, especially Saturday, which will be a very hot day. We went to do the reconnaissance, and this stage with 3,800 meters of elevation gain is already going to hurt the legs a lot."
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