All eyes on one man? Pogacar is “bored” with the role of super favorite: “But also somewhat my own fault”

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At the age of 25, Tadej Pogacar is taking on one of the biggest challenges in cycling: the Slovenian is taking on the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France this year. With his status, Pogacar can only go for the highest podium and with this Italian field of participants, the Giro seems to be a piece of cake. Or are we going too far? “I’m better than last year,” he says.

The most frequently asked question before the Giro is not who will take the overall victory, but who Tadej Pogacar can stop.

Almost no one seems to doubt that the Slovenian will claim the Trofeo Senza Fine and the maglia rosa in Rome on Sunday, May 26. And that on his debut in Italy.

“I am put forward as the favorite in every match. I can live with that in the meantime,” Pogacar laughs. “Everyone will be watching us and racing against us. But I don’t feel that much pressure.”

The Slovenian mainly feels impatience to start. Since his victory in the Tour of Lombardy in October last year, he has only been in the saddle for barely 10 days of racing.

10 impressive days, in which he won the Strade Bianche, the Tour of Catalonia (with 4 stage victories) and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

“I’m better than last year,” Pogacar says without batting an eyelid. “I feel even more comfortable on my bike and I enjoy it even more.

One top favorite? It’s a bit disrespectful to the other riders. But maybe it’s also somewhat my fault.

Tadej Pogacar

The competition has already been warned. But who does Pogacar actually see as his biggest challenger in Italy?

“There can be many surprises in three weeks and there are some “young guns” in good shape,” he estimates. “Also Romain Bardet has already shown his good form and Geraint Thomas will not be disappointed in the mountains and the time trials.”

Pogacar also finds it annoying that the Giro story is already being traced back to one man. “It’s a bit disrespectful to the other riders. But maybe it’s also my fault,” he refers to his spring.

Pink after opening weekend?

With an uphill finish on day 2, the value ratios will soon become clear, according to Pogacar. “After the 2nd stage we will already know where everyone stands.”

Is he aiming for the pink jersey so quickly? “It is not a specific goal to end the opening weekend in pink,” said the leader of UAE Team Emirates.

“The most important thing is that I wear the pink jersey in Rome. If there is an opportunity to take a stage win or the pink jersey, I will of course not pass it up, but we have to play it smart.”

Pogacar therefore focuses on the toughest appointments, such as the queen stage to Livigno, a monster tour of 222 kilometers with no less than 5,400 meters of elevation gain. “That is my favorite stage. I am also looking forward to the stage with the Monte Grappa. It will be a fun Giro.”

Not too worn out

Pogacar will not be able to use his strength in every mountainous stage in the Giro, because barely 4 weeks and 5 days after the final stage in Rome he is already at the start of the Tour.

Why not win with the handbrake on? “We follow our own path,” the Slovenian remains cryptic. “The goal is not to reach Rome too exhausted.”

It explains why Pogacar barely played this spring. “We have selected a few races, which I have prepared well.”

And he likes that approach. “I like to train hard. If you go from race to race, you can get tired quickly. Now there was more structure. And I can now go all out for a month and again a month later.”

For the Tour, Pogacar will receive support from a completely different team than during the Giro. And that is not a B team, the Slovenian assures, even though there is speculation that he can quickly become isolated uphill.

“I have full confidence in my team. Of course sometimes you will be isolated, but often that will not be the case.”

To put it in Pogacar’s words: after 2 days we might already have an answer.

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