Tadej Pogačar is coming into the Tour de France off the again of a latest bout of COVID-19, the Slovenian revealed at a pre-race press convention in Florence on Thursday.
Pogačar hasn’t raced since successful the Giro d’Italia on the finish of May, whereas his fellow Tour de France contenders – Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel, and Primož Roglič – have all needed to battle again from a mass crash suffered at April’s Itzulia Basque Country.
He’s additionally heading into the race recovering from a setback, although he famous that his bout with the virus wasn’t a severe one.
“It’s not as severe anymore. Especially in case your physique already had the virus earlier than and I had it a few times,” Pogačar stated, revealing that he caught COVID-19 round 10 days in the past. “It wasn’t too unhealthy, identical to a chilly. It handed actually quick.
“I ended for in the future after which some rollers inside. Then once I wasn’t sick anymore, I used to be driving outdoors.”
Pogačar’s setback is a minor one in comparison with the multitude of accidents suffered by Vingegaard – his nice rival and fellow two-time winner who has not raced because the crash.
Pogačar stated that “you are by no means positive” about being prepared for a Grand Tour getting back from harm – as he is aware of all too effectively after fracturing his wrist at Liège-Bastogne-Liège final spring.
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He did, nonetheless, word that Vingegaard would not be on the Grand Départ this weekend if the Dane wasn’t able to battle him as soon as once more for the yellow jersey.
“It’s good to see him in the beginning. I believe he is prepared as a result of in any other case, I do not suppose he’d be in the beginning,” Pogačar stated. “It’s one thing I’m trying ahead to – making an excellent present once more.
“I believe the connection between me and Jonas is one thing extraordinary. It’s loopy that we write this historical past ourselves as rivals. I respect this rivalry as a result of I respect him lots.”
With no main accidents to talk of himself, Pogačar as an alternative has his personal impediment of types to beat, having solely accomplished three weeks of racing along with his Giro d’Italia victory a month in the past.
The Giro-Tour double hasn’t been achieved since Marco Pantani in 1998 however, after dominating in Italy, and along with his foremost rivals all having endured less-than-ideal lead-ins to the Tour, Pogačar appears to have the strongest likelihood of any rider up to now 36 years.
UAE Team Emirates heads into the Tour de France with one of many strongest GC squads of that point interval, too, with Juan Ayuso, Adam Yates, and João Almeida headlining his assist staff. Pogačar referred to as his staff “one of many strongest groups ever” on the race.
“Our staff I believe is tremendous robust,” he stated. “We have one of many strongest groups ever within the Tour, I might say. Climbing-wise we’ve got superstars, so I’m actually honoured to have them as teammates.
“Also, we’ve got a extremely robust staff for the flat and technical components as effectively. I believe we could be assured on this staff. I’m tremendous blissful and honoured to have them as teammates.”