Pogacar will be at the start of the Tirreno tomorrow with a good feeling. He won in the United Arab Emirates and was in the final of the Strade (7th). “I am in good shape, I feel good. I am going for the win, but of course anything can happen. I will do my very best together with the team.”
Pogacar had to pass on the last gravel strip on Saturday, when Mathieu Van der Poel separated the wheat from the chaff in the leading group. “Still, I am satisfied with my Strade Bianche, it was a very tough race. It was constantly full.”
Van der Poel also impressed with his ultimate attack in the last kilometer: “Everyone was exhausted and yet it went like that.” According to the 22-year-old Slovenian, the Dutchman can also go for the classification in Tirreno. “Mathieu can certainly ride a good classification with his strength. We will see what happens.”
Van der Poel has already made it clear that he is not interested in the classification this year, he is aiming for a stage victory. Who has made a goal of the Tirreno, is Wout van Aert. He thinks this Tirreno is the ideal race to test his capacities as a GC rider.
Pogacar is convinced of this: “He can be a competitor. He is a super strong driver and can climb very well. He has shown that in recent years.”
“And I think his form is really good at the moment. I think he can do well in this kind of competition, just like Mathieu. That will be interesting to keep an eye on.”
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The stage race from Wednesday to Tuesday will also be Pogacar’s first stage race as a professional in Italy. “Indeed. I already rode here with the youth. Now there are more rides. But I love races in Italy: the food is good and the fans are fantastic.”
He will not be taking the Giro on his plate yet this year: “This year the Tour and the Games are the main goal, possibly the Vuelta (in which he became 3rd in 2019, ed.). Maybe next year I will do the 1st time. Giro. “
Pogacar was also presented with some questions other than sports, about his contract and the growing interest now that he immediately won his 1st Tour de France.
The top talent signed a contract with UAE Team Emirates until 2026, an unusually long time for cycling. “That is indeed something new in the race, but this is good for me and good for the team. I feel good with the team, I am at ease. I trust the team and they have confidence in me. a comfortable contract for me, which also takes away stress. “
Pogacar has noticed a change in his racing life since he won the Tour. There is a lot more attention, more pressure too: “I have more sponsorship obligations. That is part of the sport, but I don’t like it very much. Although I am glad that I can do it, because that means that the results are good. to be.”
And with those results, things could get better and better. The data teaches him that from last winter. “I’m improving, albeit not as much as in other years. But I’m still moving forward and looking forward to showing that in the race.”
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