Tadej Pogacar has big ambitions again for Friday’s stage to Isola 2000. It’s the place where he went on an altitude training camp the month before the Tour de France, so he knows the roads very well.
“I don’t know, I don’t think about whether I’m surprised or not,” Pogacar said about his gap in the GC. “I’m just happy it’s that kind of margin. I would be happier with a bigger one, because the next two days are hard, and you never know what happens. I just say it’s always good to be in the lead with the yellow jersey, and the time between us is just a bonus.”
“It’s been quite tiring, the second week of the Tour especially, so for sure there are some tried legs, tired minds,” Pogacar said. “But I still need to be prepared mentally and physically for everything that’s thrown at us. Maybe we can even try to win the stage tomorrow or Saturday. We need to stay strong mentally and be ready for everything. The best defence is attack.”
Remco Evenepoel seems to have a better relationship with Pogacar than Jonas Vingegaard, but Pogacar downplayed the idea that the Belgian might become an ally against Vingegaard.
“I don’t really see us being allies, because I think tomorrow more or less will be one against another,” Pogacar said. “It’s pretty clear that the stages ahead of us are about legs and pushing, and not too many tactics. It’s just mano a mano tomorrow and the day after – and the day after.”
