Tadej Pogačar has confirmed he may 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 experience for Pogačar in July as he targets a historic Giro-Tour double.
UAE Crew Emirates have nonetheless to verify their remaining eight riders however Pogačar revealed who is anticipated 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 Crew Emirates Tour de France line-up has been extensively anticipated however stands out because of the power of the squad. They’re prone to attempt to dominate the racing, particularly within the mountains.
“We have now a full star crew,” Pogačar mentioned whereas chatting with Geraint Thomas and Luke Rowe throughout an episode of their Watts Occuring podcast.
“Yates will likely be my proper hand man. Then Ayuso and Almeida are super-climbing domestiques. Then Soler and Sivakov would be the greater climbers that may nonetheless possibly do one thing on the flat. Then Nils Pollitt and Tim Wellens too. Majka will keep at house, I feel 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 main crash took out the Dane, Evenepoel and Roglič.
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“That could 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 remaining Tour de France reconnaissance rides along with his teammates.
He admitted that he was tempted to dye his hair pink after profitable the Giro d’Italia however opted for a quiet week at house in Monaco along 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 “possibly 6 or 7 out of 10.”
“Mentally I am higher, bodily I am a bit destroyed nevertheless it evens out a bit bit,” he mentioned.
Pogačar and Thomas each anticipate Vingegaard to experience the Tour de France even when Visma-Lease a Bike have nonetheless to verify his presence. The 2-time Tour winner is anticipated 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 experience the Tour if he’s 100% prepared.
“For me, sure, he’ll be in the beginning,” Pogačar mentioned, reiterating feedback he made throughout the Giro.
“I feel he was using the bike fairly quickly after leaving the hospital so if he is snug already using on the bike again then he will 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 suppose it is going to be an issue.”
Thomas agreed.
“If he is positive to push himself in coaching then I feel 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 feel they’ve good causes to be greater than 100% this yr,” Pogačar mentioned.
“It’s good to see Remco within the Tour lastly. When he was world champion, I informed him: ‘You should do the Tour,’ however he did not do it.”
“I feel Remco may have the motivation to assault early within the Tour. I feel Primož will simply have a look at everyone after which he will likely 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.
