"The first week scares me" - Pogacar on Tour expectations, fears and Jumbo-Visma rivalry

UAE Team Emirates are on a roll and getting ready for the Tour de France, with different parts of it's block spread out across the Critérium du Dauphiné, Tour de Suisse and Tour of Slovenia. Tadej Pogacar will be fighting for his third Tour, but aknowledges a big challenge ahead.

In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Pogacar has said that "I had to restrain myself and needed a break after the spring". After the passing of his partner's mother, the Slovenian opted out of Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and later on took a break from racing, in order to rest and begin preparation for the Tour de France.

He was asked about the Grand Boucle where he will defend his 2020 and 2021 titles, and has admitted to be fearful of the opening week. "The first week scares me. There is the twelve kilometer long bridge finish in Denmark on the North Sea. There is a chance of fans and bad weather," he said. "And there's the cobblestone ride. It becomes survival. As they say, you can't win the Tour in the first week, but you can lose it. I will need a strong team next to me.”

Pogacar is an ideal all-rounder, however the doubts don't come over his capacity, but instead on the outside factors which can influence the race. The first six stages of the race lack climbing to make the difference, but it promises to be - as every year - very tense racing which can see crashes, and where mechanicals can have big consequences. Heading into the mountains, Pogacar shares a similar idea.

“I have never raced the Galibier and Alpe d'Huez. The Galibier is really high, while Alpe d'Huez is awful. I've never seen anything like it. If it's 35 degrees, like during the recon, it's going to be an epic day," he said. Last year it was in the Alps that the 23-year old made the winning difference en route to Le Grand-Bornand, however this year may see a different story.

And Jumbo-Visma will have a team even stronger, as long as crashes don't affect the Dutch team. “We'll see if it's enough this year to be as good as last year. I feel stronger, I am sharper, I have more strength and I feel psychologically more confident. My first win came out of nowhere. There was no pressure and it was a great surprise. I was more aware of what I could do when I took my second Tour," he added. "Now I know that everyone is waiting to get on me. It will not be easy this year and there will be a lot of pressure".

"I will have to be at my best to take on Roglic and Vingegaard. The Jumbo-Visma team has gotten better and instills fear on the climbs. But I will start the Tour with a smile on my face and keep smiling until I reach Paris," he concluded.