Armstrong "holds no grudges against Pogacar this time" and points to the crucial duel in the Tour time trial: "Time trial of their lives"

A day after his sharp critique of Tadej Pogacar, Lance Armstrong expressed a more favorable opinion of the Slovenian. The American had taken issue with the yellow jersey holder for clinching Friday's stage to Isola 2000, but found Saturday’s victory more understandable. In his podcast, The Move, Armstrong also pointed out the upcoming crucial time trial on Sunday. "I’m all set for those two time trials."

Firstly, Pogacar, because Armstrong was very harsh in his comments on Friday evening towards the dominant Tour leader. "It’s also a political event, and you shouldn’t give others a reason to hate you," he said, referring to Pogacar and UAE-Team Emirates' constant pursuit of stage wins. In the Giro d'Italia, he already won five stages, and on Saturday in the Tour, he achieved the same number.

Anyone who heard Armstrong on Friday talk about 'the biggest mistake he has made in his career' might have expected a new attack on Saturday evening. But that didn't happen. "I know I was harsh on Tadej after the nineteenth stage, but I won’t be this time. He held back, we all saw that. And he could have done the same on Friday. Let the others fight it out and possibly win in the sprint... I don’t blame him this time, especially since Vingegaard was clearly looking to gain time on Evenepoel."

According to the Texan, Pogacar benefited from the work of others and increased his total Tour stage wins to sixteen. "If he wins the time trial, that will be seventeen. That’s a lot of stage wins at 25 years old," he said admiringly. "And even if his Tour record didn’t already suggest it, there’s no doubt that he’s among the top three cyclists of all time. He is the talent of his generation, amazing."

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Cycling world looks forward to battle between two foes

Pogacar's dominance has meant that there's little left to enjoy in Sunday's time trial. Finally, it’s not the Champs Elysées, but unfortunately, the top ten places and the battle for the jerseys are already decided. Except for one, as Armstrong points out. "We have Giulio Ciccone at Lidl-Trek, who haven’t won anything since Mads Pedersen dropped out. And then there’s Santiago Buitrago at Bahrain Victorious, who also haven’t won anything yet. That will be the most important time trial of Sunday, 22 seconds apart."

Ciccone enters the time trial in tenth place, Buitrago in eleventh. Both were in the news on Saturday, after the Italian stopped at Buitrago’s camp at the end of Stage 19. A heated exchange followed. Ciccone criticized the Colombian for accepting a sticky bottle during the final climb. "We all saw what you did," he said. Buitrago snapped back: "I learned it from you."

Armstrong didn’t want to discuss that incident; he focused on the importance of a tenth place in the Tour de France. "Those two men know the difference and that their team came to the Tour for a top ten. This will be the most important time trial of their lives. Top ten is important, really. Tenth or eleventh... Those two time trials, I’m definitely watching them."