Tour de France, Pogacar warns Vingegaard: “I’ll improve again in the third week”

CLERMONT FERRAND – The difference between Jonas Vingegaard And Tadej Pogacar it is just 17” on the road of this Tour but immense from another important point of view: the communicative one. While Jumbo-Visma entrusted to a modest video of 2 minutes and 17” all that Vingegaard had to say about the first week (“They have been great stages but the best ones will come, I’m in good shape and ready to fight, it’s a beautiful Tour, in the next few days the fatigue of the first week will be felt and there will be big differences), Pogacar was the protagonist of a very crowded virtual press conference and allowed himself for 25 minutes. With his usual boyish face, relaxed in a black UAE branded T-shirt, the Slovenian answered many questions, sparing no jokes and smiles. “What has been the big moment of the Tour so far? There wasn’t just one moment, but I feel better day after day and my injured wrist is also healing”. Pogacar’s hope is to grow further: “I already had an excellent training base in the spring, but now here I hope to improve as the stages progress and to grow in the third week”.

“Surprised I lost ground on the Marie Blanque”

Pogacar admitted he was impressed by the Jumbo’s attack on the Laruns stage, when he lost over a minute to Vingegaard: “It wasn’t surprising their massive attack, but the fact that they fell behind on a climb that I know very well” . Then the dig: “Did Jumbo mention the climb to the Puy de Dôme as my best climb? I know my training data and I’m sure I can do even better. But I won’t do anything crazy, the Tour is won day after day, saving money. We race intelligently, like I did in Cauterets. Jonas and I drop bombs on every climb. Does he say he prefers the Alps? I like them too and I’m improving both on long climbs and racing in the heat. I know Jumbo will try to put me in difficulty as a team, I’m prepared for anything they can organize. I will try to respond to their attacks.”

“Peeing on the run? Twice per stage”

Finally a curious question: how do you pee in a group? “In the old cycling when the breakaway started the yellow jersey stopped and the others stopped too. Now it’s more complicated and the races are very tight. You can do it while stationary or moving on the bike. I do it a couple of times a stop. Never alone, at least with two teammates who help me get back to the group.”