Once again, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) was impressive on this 13th stage of Tour de Franceonce again ahead of her rival Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) et son compatriote Primoz Roglic (Red Bull Bora-Hansgrohe). The current yellow jersey of this tour may not have finished hitting: he could do this tomorrow with the queen stage of the Pyrenean triptych, step 14 between Pau and Luchon-Superbagnères, 182.6 kilometers with more than 5,020 meters of elevation. Present on arrival, the general manager of the training UAE Team Emirates-XRGthe Swiss Mauro Gianettispoke to our microphone Cyclism’Actu on the recent performance of “Pogi”but also on what could still make his runner lose the turn.
“You have to stay focused and not underestimate Vingegaard …”
Mauro, we were with Jonas Vingegaard. He just said to us: “Yesterday, it was probably my least good performance for a long time. Today is my best performance.” Is Tadej Pogacar too strong?
Tadej, since he was a runner, since he was on the circuit, we see that he is the strongest. Perhaps not only this period, but a fairly long period. This is not new. It is true that yesterday, Vingegaard was not at his level, so by the end of the tower, we expect what he comes back. Because Vingegaard is a warrior. He has a very good team. There are still a lot of steps, many kilometers, many mountains at stake. You have to stay focused and not to underestimate Vingegaard.
In French, it is said that he has baraka, because even when he falls, it is never too serious. Everything smiles at him?
Yes, we touch wood as they say. You know, he also dropped to Liège-Bastogne-Liège, where he broke something. But the way he runs, he still manages to be well positioned, also thanks to the team. I believe that the position in the peloton is very important. But as I say, you have to stay focused, because we saw it the other day: a fall arrives quickly. Fortunately, during his last fall, he was able to slide rather than falling violently … Yes, he did not do too badly.
Frankly, you who know him by heart, is Tadej Pogacar has been surprising you since the start of this tour?
You know, on the one hand, of course it surprises me. But on the other, it's Tadej. He does what we are used to. He made two laps where he was not really in his best form: once because of a fall, another time because of a cravings. He lost the Tour, but he still finished second by winning three or four stages. It's Tadej. We see it in the classics, it's impressive. We are lucky to have it in the team. And I think the cycling audience is spoiled to see such a talent. We are lucky to have it in the team.
What are you the most afraid for the rest of this Tour de France, concerning Tadej Pogacar?
Perhaps, sometimes, of his desire to do too much … and to end up paying it at a given moment. Over the years, he learned from his mistakes. The lesson of Granon was a real lesson: on a single climb, he lost three minutes … and around. That's the fear: that he wants too much, and that at one point, he must pay the note. It is also up to us, sometimes, to convince him to remain calm. But the advantage in the ranking is still interesting. You have to manage the situation well, and especially the strength of teammates, because there is still a lot of work to Paris. So it's really a question of forces management.
So what is the feeling at the evening of this 13th stage?
Alright. We are in a very good situation, a very good position. The general classification is not badly drawn. Remco (Evenepoel) suffered yesterday, and today he didn't have a good day either. It is starting to be far enough in general. So we can focus more or less only on Vingegaard.
