By Le Figaro with AFP
Posted 15 minutes ago
Tadej Pogačar. Benoit Tessier / REUTERS
Tadej Pogacar stressed on Thursday that he was “used to being the favorite” in all the races he starts in and that he does not feel any pressure before the Tour of Italy which begins on Saturday.
“Every time I start a race, people say I’m the favorite. I’m used to it, I’ve learned to live with it and I’m prepared for it. I know that everyone will want to beat me and that it will be up to my team to control the race.declared the Slovenian during a press videoconference two days before departure.
“Since my first victory in the Tour de France (in 2020), my life has changed. Now the pressure is there in every race. But I take that as a good thing. It will be the same thing on the Tour de France. It’s up to us to follow our plan and calculate our strength to have enough fuel until the end.”added the one who aims to become the first rider since Marco Pantani in 1998 to win the Giro and the Tour in the same year.
Bardet seen as a rival?
“Since Liège, I have had some very good training sessions, a bit of go kart too and I spent time with my family. It passed quickly. Now I can’t wait for it to start.”indicated the leader of the UAE team.
Among the main rivals, he cites two veterans, the Frenchman Romain Bardet who “has shown that he has been in great condition lately” and the British Geraint Thomas who “will be good, as usual”. «We will already see after the second day who is in good shape”estimated “Pogi” who also worked the time trial “more than last year” while two times are on the program for this 107th edition.
If he remains cautious, it is also because “so much can happen in three weeks”. “There will perhaps be less stress than in the Tour de France but I expect bad weather, difficult stages and long climbs.” But he also warns that he has “even hungrier than usual” after following “many races on television with the desire to be there”.
