"There are always pitfalls" - Tadej Pogacar handed Tour de France warning as Miguel Indurain rates his chances
Cycling
Tadej Pogacar arrives at the Tour de France this weekend as the red-hot favourite. He's won four of the last six tours and knows more than most just how much can go wrong in the battle for yellow every day.
As does Miguel Indurain, winner of the Tour five years in a row. The Slovenian is aiming to match the Spanish legend's record this month and has received some words of comfort but also a timely warning from the 61-year-old.
Indurain doesn't shy away from the fact that Pogacar and UAE Team Emirates - XRG are the big favourites, having the form and team strength to back it up. However, warned of the complications that arise during a three-week Tour. Not casting doubt on his favouritism, Indurain isn't getting ahead of himself.
"Well, yes, Pogacar is very strong. He and his team are in top form and excited," Indurain told Eurosport.
"He's also the winner of the last two Tours, so he's the number one favorite. But the rest will certainly make it difficult for him, and then in the race itself, a Tour is complicated."
Team time trial looms
He noted that Pogacar is in good spirits, but in his short analysis, noted a key factor in this year's tour - the first stage. Saturday's opening day features a crucial team time trial.
With ASO's rules for the discipline differing from others, the fastest rider across the line for each team sets their stage time. For GC riders, the most important consideration is that every rider's individual time goes towards their time in the ranking - making it a more decisive opening day than in previous editions.
Indurain said: "Start in Barcelona, team time trial... there are always pitfalls, and you have to take it one day at a time. But Pogacar is in good spirits, and I think he's going to be the top favourite."
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Indurain on Seixas and Ayuso
Paul Seixas is another potential contender on many fans' lips. Although Indurain worries about his age and the responsibility that comes with the Tour, he knows that athletes across all sports now perform at the highest level at a younger age.
Indurain said: "Well, he's a young guy. Maybe too young for the responsibility of a Tour de France, but nowadays young people in all sports take the reins very early and I'm sure he'll do well."
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From a Spanish perspective, Juan Ayuso will fly the flag among the favourites. But Indurain has a more long-term vision for the Lidl-Trek signing after he left Pogacar's UAE over winter.
"Yes, there are some good young riders in Spanish cycling. Juan Ayuso has changed teams; he was with UAE. That, whether you like it or not, throws you off a bit, but he has the potential to fight for a Grand Tour. Maybe not this year, but in the future I think he has the possibility of doing great things."
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- i am sure that under the pretext of medical examination a lot worse has happened when they were under.abstractengineer02-11-2026
- dude, Lemond never even was in the same race as Armstrong. He throws all these aspersions on other American riders who might usurp his throne as the greatest ever American racer. He doesn't say a single thing about (foreign) dopers who he actually raced against. Biggest douchebag move ever. I used to revere that guy, now I despise him. His actions are so weird.fatsupermodel02-11-2026
- This is just stupid, You do what you are good at not what you are weak at. He has no results to speak of when he participated. Even Froome, Conatdor had very little. With Pogi there he wont win none of the classics. he is already 30+ with a few years left at the top. It takes years to get good at classics. Is that really worth the effort???abstractengineer02-11-2026
- Sure, little fella.awp02-11-2026
- You'll be the ongoing joke of 2027 with anything you post here!frieders302-11-2026
- Awwww your inside information must be from PogiFanGirl. You two daughters of different mothers?frieders302-11-2026
- Hey PogIFanGirl...wipe that cream from your lips! You're ever loving drooling and whatever you have for Tadej has your brain fried!frieders302-11-2026
- Why should he 'let it go' ! Because you said so? Anytime LA Doper is called out is a win win !frieders302-11-2026
- Geez LeMond...let it go. You're a has been, albeit a former great one. But this is all water under the bridge and just undermines your legacy further.Mshark01-11-2026
- 'The Slovenian has collected four Tour de France titles' ... '[Kieran Wood's] ... reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis'. i would say that is pretty inaccurate accurate coverage, kieran wood ... too bad that AI's knowledge often lags several months behind ... but proof reading is certainly part of accurate coverage, isn't it? but fortunately does Kieran Wood place 'strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.' i would say the fifth tdf title is pretty new (and even verified) information, so feel free to update this article.Ketterechts01-11-2026
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