Tadej Pogačar has confirmed he could have an extremely highly effective crew to tackle Jonas Vingegaard on the Tour de France, with Adam Yates, Juan Ayuso, João Almeida all using as tremendous domestiques for the Slovenian. All three may very well be crew leaders in rival groups however will journey for Pogačar in July as he targets a historic Giro-Tour double.
UAE Staff Emirates have nonetheless to verify their closing eight riders however Pogačar revealed who is predicted to line-up in Florence on June 29 for the Grand Depart.
Marc Soler, Pavel Sivakov, Tim Wellens and Nils Politt are additionally a part of the line-up however there’s apparently no place for the USA’s Brandon McNulty, who’s focussed on the Olympics after making the USA choice for the person time trial, or Rafał Majka, who rode alongside Pogačar as he gained the Giro d’Italia.
The UAE Staff Emirates Tour de France line-up has been extensively anticipated however stands out because of the power of the squad. They’re more likely to attempt to dominate the racing, particularly within the mountains.
“We’ve got a full star crew,” Pogačar mentioned whereas talking to Geraint Thomas and Luke Rowe throughout an episode of their Watts Occuring podcast.
“Yates will probably be my proper hand man. Then Ayuso and Almeida are super-climbing domestiques. Then Soler and Sivakov would be the larger climbers that may nonetheless perhaps do one thing on the flat. Then Nils Pollitt and Tim Wellens too. Majka will keep at residence, I believe he is fairly unhappy about this.”
Adam Yates crashed out of the UAE Tour and suffered a concussion however raced the Giro d’Abruzzo after which the Tour de Romandie. He was third general within the 2023 Tour de France. Ayuso completed second to Vinggaard at Tirreno-Adriatico and gained Itzulia Basque Nation after the key crash took out the Dane, Evenepoel and Roglič.
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“That may be a hit squad,” Thomas mentioned in awe.
“It’s, it’s. And it scares me too,” Pogačar joked.
Pogačar headed to altitude at Isola 2000 within the French Alps on Tuesday after per week of relaxation and restoration following his Giro d’Italia victory in Rome. He’ll keep at altitude for nearly three weeks, coaching and finishing up some closing Tour de France reconnaissance rides together with his teammates.
He admitted that he was tempted to dye his hair pink after successful the Giro d’Italia however opted for a quiet week at residence in Monaco together with his fiance Urška Žigart after three weeks of intense racing.
The Slovenian gained six levels as he dominated the Giro d’Italia, beating Dani Martinez (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Tjomas by ten minutes. Thomas admitted throughout the podcast that he was nonetheless fatigued however Pogačar mentioned his stage of fatigue was “perhaps 6 or 7 out of 10.”
“Mentally I am higher, bodily I am just a little destroyed however it evens out just a little bit,” he mentioned.
Pogačar and Thomas each count on Vingegaard to journey the Tour de France even when Visma-Lease a Bike have nonetheless to verify his presence. The 2-time Tour winner is predicted to be a part of a 4 rider big-name battle on the Tour with Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Fast-Step) and Primož Roglič (Bora-Hansgrohe). Vingegaard is already coaching at altitude within the French Alps however Visma-Lease a Bike have insisted he’ll solely journey the Tour if he’s 100% prepared.
“For me, sure, he’ll be initially,” Pogačar mentioned, reiterating feedback he made throughout the Giro.
“I believe he was using the bike fairly quickly after leaving the hospital so if he is comfy already using on the bike again then he might be in fine condition.
“The factor most individuals are saying is that it relies upon if he can attain race weight, however I do not assume it is going to be an issue.”
Thomas agreed.
“If he is positive to push himself in coaching then I believe he can nonetheless be actually good.”
Evenepoel and Roglič have recovered from their crash accidents and Pogacsr expects them to combat for victory, if following completely different race methods.
“The motivation for Remco and Roglič is tremendous tremendous excessive, I believe they’ve good causes to be greater than 100% this 12 months,” Pogačar mentioned.
“It’s good to see Remco within the Tour lastly. When he was world champion, I advised him: ‘It is advisable do the Tour,’ however he did not do it.”
“I believe Remco could have the motivation to assault early within the Tour. I believe Primož will simply take a look at everyone after which he will probably be flying within the final days.”
The Tour de France will get underway in Florence, Italy on Saturday 29 June and ends on Sunday July 21, with a hilly time trial to Good.
