“I would prefer to win a step to make a top 10 general”
What will be your goal on this Tour de France: the stages or the general classification?
For the moment, I would prefer to win a step to make a top 10 general. This year, it is certain that I will not try the general, it will be the role of Santiago (Buitrago), but maybe in two years it can change.
Have you ever checked steps in particular?
Yes I checked for example that of Brittany Wall (7th stage), that of Mont Ventoux (16th) or that of Mont-Dore (10th). In fact, there are a lot of steps that I would like to win, but I would take anyone, it would already be great (laughs). There is the time trial of Peyragudes too (13th) which is a goal for me and the team. I know it's hard to beat leaders like Pogacar and Vingegaard in this exercise, but if I am in a good day you never know.
More fun than to play a general classification?
I have fun playing the general, but that's another feeling. The stage victory is a feeling on arrival that we cannot describe, it is a crazy thing. Anyway, it is impossible that I win the tour for the moment. So I don't really see the point of going to the Tour to play the general.
Do you understand that some, who are waiting for a French final victory, may be disappointed that you are not trying to play the general?
Honestly, it's impossible that I win the tour for the moment, so I do what I like. I have a bike to please people, but I also have to make myself happy if not it is complicated since it is such a hard sport.
“I have much less pressure than last year”
In what state of mind do you arrive on this tour, after your first complicated experience last year?
I have much less pressure than last year. This year I see how it is, I had a different preparation with a dedicated internship. It will be a very different turn from last year for me. Last year many elders had said to me “you will see, the turn is terrible”. In the end not that much, it is not fully every day. Now I'm less afraid of the Tour.
You have been evolving under the colors of Barhain-Victorious since the start of the year after having made your career start at Groupama-FDJ. Can it allow you to aim better on the Tour?
We have changed a lot in training for a few months. All winter, I worked my punchy side with my trainer. I also needed to change the environment and be in an international team with runners who come from all walks of life. It is also motivating. I like change and it did me good.
What path has led you to work this punchy side?
It was my coach who, after analyzing my training data, saw that I had the capacity for short efforts and he supported a lot on this. I also have capacity to climb long passes but for him it was more interesting to work on this aspect. It is also super important because it is this little difference at the end that saves when you arrive in a small group. I now arrive more confident when arrivals in small groups.
How do you envisage the fight between Pogacar and Vingegaard for the General?
Pogacar proved on the Critérium du Dauphiné that he was super strong and a little above Vingegaard. It is not the turn, but in the Dauphiné we can already have glimpses of the shape of each. In any case, I hope a great battle between these two runners and that the strongest wins.
