Untouchable since this start of Tour de Francethe world champion Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) advances around the third week with a yellow jersey solidly anchored on his shoulders. Almost 4 minutes 13 separate the leader in the training UAE Team Emirates-XRG of his dolphin, the Danish Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease A Bike) and almost 7 minutes 53 of the German Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe), 3rd in the general classification. During this well -deserved rest day for the runners of this 112nd edition, the quadruple stage winner on this Large loop did not escape the traditional press conference, before appearing this Tuesday before the slopes of the legendary Mont Ventoux.
“We are ready to fight, especially against Jonas …”
“No, at the start of the round I was not at all irritated”begins the yellow jersey. “It is the Tour de France, you have to stay focused and be maximum preparation from the first stages. Perhaps these stages are not those that I like, those like the other's other runners. I do not think that whoever is liked. They are very agitated, dangerous, and you have to remain vigilant. But I must say that I really take advantage of this tour, because we have a super group, Breakfast, it's really nice.
We have a very good group, and I am happy to be part of it. I rather have confidence in myself. I mean, I must have confidence. But I am also convinced that Jonas (Vingegaard) can have confidence in him too, because he is really in good shape. As we saw during the last time trial and the next day in Super Bagnères, he literally flew. So I just have to stay focused, eat well, sleep well, keep this atmosphere and motivation in the team. I have confidence for the last week. It will be difficult, but we are ready to fight, especially against Jonas “comments the leader in the general classification.
“I clearly have more experience on the Tour …”
Komanda's ogre seems nostalgic to no longer wear the white jersey, as he explains: “I no longer wear the white jersey, I have had it for so long that I miss it a little. But on the other hand, I clearly have more experience on the Tour: how the race evolves, which I am capable of, what the competition can do. I think I am maturing, that I grow. It is my sixth round, always at a high level. I can say with confidence that I have every week. How far I can go in this progression.
Participation in the Vuelta? For the moment, I only think in turn and the remaining six stages. I don't think about what comes after. I know that some are already planning their vacation, but I have no plan, I don't know what I'm going to do. I think the decision will come after the Tour. It will probably come from my side, we will see. I do not put the pressure for the rest of the season, I remain focused on the tour and after, in a quieter moment, I will decide what I am able to do “explique “pogi”.
“Decathlon? Serious candidates to win the tour in the years to come …”
Slovenian was also asked about the new merger between Decathlon et CMA CGM : “I think this is good news. Decathlon, before it was AG2R, and honestly, at the time, the team was a bit always the same, a little frozen. But with the new name, Decathlon, I already see a lot of improvements in their way of running. They have very good runners. I am not in the team, but it really looks solid. And yes, with their current approach, I can clearly be in the tower future.”
“Clearly, this year, the route almost seems to have been done to be a little scary, you see? We went to Hautacam, we go to Mont Ventoux and to the Col de la Loze, as you said, Jonas dropped me three times. But for me, these are racing situations. It is not the pass in itself that is suitable for one or the other, I think the race On climbs of 10 to 15 km.concludes Tadej Pogacar in this press conference.
