We hadn't seen him in the race since his 12th place at the Flèche Wallonne, almost two months ago.
After internships at altitude in Italy, the Slovenian prodigy Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates), double winner of the Tour de France (2020 and 2021), is finally making his return to official competition, at home, this Wednesday.
He will take part in the Tour of Slovenia (June 15 to 19), a stage race in which he is the title holder.
The 23-year-old Slovenian spoke in front of his audience in Nova Gorica, on the eve of the start of this final preparation before the big start of the Tour de France (July 1 to 24).
What have you done since your last race?
TADEJ POGACAR
.
I was off for the last two months, but I trained well.
I'm happy to be back competing here in Slovenia.
We come with a very strong team, we want to stay on top and aim for victory in all races.
So in three weeks, yes, there's the Tour de France, that's the most important thing.
But the Tour of Slovenia is an exceptional opportunity to prepare.
We want to win it like last year.
Precisely, why choose for two years the Tour of Slovenia when all the contenders for victory in the Tour are preparing for the Dauphiné or the Tour of Switzerland?
The Tour of Slovenia is my home race!
It is very beautiful, it lasts only 5 days.
I don't need 7 or 9 days of racing before the Tour.
I focus on my training.
I'm having fun here, and I'm more relaxed in view of the Tour.
But that can change, for sure one day I will come to the Dauphiné or the Tour de Suisse.
Nearly time to go again, -5 days until @TourOfSlovenia 🇸🇮😍 pic.twitter.com/gwzuZx7jv7
— Tadej Pogačar (@TamauPogi) June 10, 2022
The 4th stage on Saturday will be special, it will pass through your native village of Komenda…
Yes, my family and friends will be very present.
They have supported me from the start.
It is sure that when I go to Komenda, I will have chills, these are my childhood roads.
If I have time and we're not driving too fast, I hope to be able to stop, to greet everyone and give them a hug.
What did you think of the demonstration by Primoz Roglic and the Jumbo-Visma at the Dauphiné?
They were very strong.
Primoz (Roglic) and Jonas (Vingegaard) were impressive in the passes.
These are references, but I'm not surprised, it was expected.
We watched them, and they will do the same with us on the Tour of Slovenia.
They are competitors.
But the Tour will be a whole different story.
Read also "I'm back": Roglic takes the yellow jersey on the Dauphiné and sends a message to Pogacar
You recognized the mountain stages of the Tour last week.
Which do you think is the hardest?
That of Alpe d'Huez.
And that of Hautacam too, in the Pyrenees.
These are two long stages, with a lot of climbs, three big, very long and very hard passes, and especially the last one.
Are you afraid of the heat this summer when you are already seeing the heat wave in June in Europe?
During my last three weeks of training, the weather was rather gloomy and here it will be very hot.
You have to be prepared for all kinds of conditions, good or bad.
You are now encouraged by a large audience with your victories over the past two years, does that give you confidence?
Yes, it gives confidence when you see everyone on the side of the road or in front of the TV, but it also gives a kind of pressure.
But I love this.
Without pressure, there is no competition.
It takes pressure to win races.
