Having proven himself to be the strongest yellow jersey contender within the Tour de France by means of the important pair of hilly and mountainous phases throughout the race’s first week, race chief Tadej Pogačar made it by means of the stage 7 time trial unscathed, too.
The Slovenian was anticipated to lose time to world time trial champion Remco Evenepoel on the 25.3km run from Nuits-Saint-Georges to Gevrey-Chambertin, and probably even cede the race lead altogether.
However, the final man out on target crossed the road with a mere 12-second deficit to the Belgian, who has emerged as his closest GC rival by means of one-third of the race.
Having blasted between the vineyards and crossed the end line in one other tiny French village into which the world’s largest bike race had inexplicably crammed itself, Pogačar sped previous the ready press, shortly downed a drink handed over by his soigneur, and ready for a now acquainted spherical of post-stage media duties.
“Today, we noticed some good legs, some good occasions,” Pogačar mentioned within the press convention. “I may be proud of how the form is and the way a lot form is. But we can’t draw any conclusions from at the moment. Most of the Tour remains to be forward of us and so much can occur.
“For certain, we noticed Remco, as at all times, one of the best time trialist within the race, and Jonas Vingegaard and Primož Roglič did tremendous good as nicely. I believe it is fairly shut, so we have to wait and see concerning the correct mountain phases coming within the final three days.”
While he’d shed a dozen seconds to Evenepoel, who now lies 33 seconds off the lead, Pogačar did handle to make time on his different closest rivals, with Roglič coming residence in third, having misplaced 22 seconds, and Vingegaard, having pale on the ultimate run to the end, one other three seconds again.
Overall, it was a optimistic time out for the Slovenian, who now has 1:15 on Vingegaard and 1:36 on Roglič. His UAE Team Emirates teammates Juan Ayuso and João Almeida comply with shut behind at 2:16 and a pair of:17 down.
“I’m proud of how I rode at the moment, how my legs had been turning,” Pogačar mentioned. “To make time on Jonas, and Primož is for me thought of actually good as a result of I do know they’re in fine condition, and I do know that in subsequent week’s mountain phases, they may also each be good. For certain, we’ll see quite a lot of attacking and attention-grabbing racing within the mountains.”
Pogačar has the 199km trek by means of the gravel and hills round Troyes on stage 9 to look ahead to earlier than hitting the mountains within the Pyrenees on stage 14 subsequent week. He mentioned he is wanting ahead to the stage, even when the gravel might throw up surprises and sudden variables within the race.
“I’m type of wanting ahead to it. I did the recon, so I do know what’s ready for us,” he mentioned. “I might say it is not essentially the most enjoyable stage, nevertheless it relies upon how we race, relies on the wind, relies on the climate, and relies on what the peloton needs to do.
“I believe there may be quite a lot of variation in how the race can go, however I believe I’m prepared for all and let’s have a look at. Normally, I like this type of stage, however you by no means know what can occur. Let’s see.”
But he is most wanting ahead to these late mountain phases, his pure habitat. Summit finishes at Pla d’Adet, the Plateau de Beille, Isola 2000, and the Col de la Couillole can’t come quickly sufficient, with these decisive climbs set to be the actual deciders of this yr’s maillot jaune.
Pogačar praised the Tour’s Grande Partenza and mentioned he “can’t wait” to return to the Pyrenees and Alps, saying that in the intervening time “there’s nothing to look ahead to” within the race.
“I need to say that this yr’s Tour de France is a bit unusual,” Pogačar mentioned. “We had a enjoyable first 4 days, however now this week is a little bit bit like there’s nothing to look ahead to. If there wasn’t a time trial at the moment, then it might be a very boring, unusual Tour with flat phases the place no person needs to go within the breakaway.
“Tomorrow is one other tense day, then one other tense day, then it is a relaxation day, then it is one other tense day, one other tense day. And then we slowly enter the mountains. Right now, I’m feeling fairly nice, and I can’t wait to lastly hit the right mountains.”