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Tour de France: "I must try to attack at the lowest pass", Tadej Pogacar ready for the battle in the Pyrenees

2022-07-18T15:28:24.718Z


The Slovenian, double defending champion, spoke on the rest day in Carcassonne, before a decisive last week to try to re


After the rest day on Monday in Carcassonne, the last week of the Tour begins on Tuesday with a mid-mountain stage arriving in Foix, then two summit finishes in Peyragudes and Hautacam, before the time trial in Rocamadour, the day before. of arrival in Paris.

So many opportunities for Tadej Pogacar, 2nd at 2′22 sec from Jonas Vingegaard, to regain time in the Danish yellow jersey.

Bernard Hinault, five-time winner of the Tour, said: “as long as I breathe, I attack”.

Is this your philosophy before starting this last week?

TADEJ POGACAR.

Yes, more or less.

I have to try to attack at the lower pass.

I will try to go as hard as possible in the mountains to save time.

It's difficult but I will do everything possible.

I hope I will have no regrets.

I am very far and late.

If I have the legs and as soon as I see an opportunity, I will try.

Jonas Vingegaard followed you from the Granon and you were never able to make up time for him.

Does it frustrate you or motivate you?

It gives me more motivation.

He is the man to beat, he is super strong.

At Alpe d'Huez he followed me but if I had been more confident, maybe I could have saved time.

In Mende, the climb was shorter, more explosive, and he was still in my wheel.

But in three days, there can still be good times and bad times, mentally and physically, with a lot of climbing, it's going to be interesting.

The Jumbo lost two team members (

Roglic

and Kruijswijk).

Does that reassure you?

Yes, now we are almost at the same level, with six riders per team each.

We know how difficult it was when we lost Laengen then Bennett.

We know it won't be easy for Jumbo too.

They need to defend the jersey, I need to attack them, it's simple.

How long do you think you need to recover before the time trial?

I must recover all my delay before!

Jonas is also very good in the time trial.

I know the course, I recognized it twice.

I'm not going to bet that I can win 30 seconds or two minutes on this time trial.

I will do my best first.

Are you considering an alliance with the Ineos who are well placed?

They have three riders in the top 10 (Geraint Thomas 3rd, Adam Yates 5th and Thomas Pidcock 9th).

They are in good shape.

If they attack it's good for me because Jumbo will have to roll.

But there is no question of an alliance.

They seem to run more for a place on the podium and for the team classification.

I will stay focused on my race and do the best I can.

Do you think it's better to be on the attack like you or in Jonas' position?

In Jonas's of course.

He is 2′22 ahead, he is the big favorite.

But I believe that up to the top 6 riders can claim the podium or the yellow jersey.

Because if you crack one day you can waste a lot of time.

Read alsoAnd Pogacar became human again … On the slopes of Granon, a failure already in the legend

Do you understand what happened at the Col du Granon?

I was maybe a little tight in essence.

I had responded to a lot of attacks in the Galibier, it took a lot of energy from me, I had to do about ten sprints, when Jonas (Vingegaard) and Primoz (Roglic) did five each and m let them come back.

Maybe it kinda killed me and I need to refill the gas.

How were you mentally after that first time you were let go?

It was not the first time !

Afterwards, it was very hard 15 to 20 minutes after the Granon, that's normal.

I was drained, exhausted, I had dropped everything.

I had tried to do more, but the body couldn't.

And after this stage, I felt good.

On the podium, in the descent of the Granon, I saw many fans, they comforted me.

I didn't give up, head held high, straight ahead, one good night and the next day it was on again.

Source: leparis

All sports articles on 2022-07-18

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