Pogacar finds the Tour "strange and boring": "One stressful day after another, nothing to look forward to"

So far, no second stage victory for Tadej Pogacar in the Tour de France. The wearer of the yellow jersey faced a very strong Remco Evenepoel in the time trial, who he had already expected would deliver a hard blow during Friday's stage. In the end, he had to concede twelve seconds to the world time trial champion, which was more than enough to keep the yellow jersey. "I can live with this," he coolly told the various cycling media afterward. However, he was not particularly pleased about something else...

Pogacar was constantly close to Evenepoel's intermediate times but would not come closer than six seconds at the penultimate measuring point. Eventually, his deficit grew to twelve seconds. "I was a bit cooked on the climb," Pogacar admits. "I started off well and had good legs, but I went a bit too hard there. I suffered. Fortunately, I could pick up the pace again on the descent and in the final part."

Pogacar already anticipated Evenepoel's time trial supremacy

"I didn’t know the exact differences during the race, but I knew I had ridden a good time trial," continued the two-time Tour winner (2020 and 2021 editions). "And I finished second, right behind the world champion. That is great," concluded the all-rounder, who seemed satisfied. "I can certainly live with this. Remco is the world champion in this discipline and is simply one of the best time trialists, if not the best. If you then come in second by a few seconds, you can be satisfied."

We also noticed some disappointment in Pogacar. "I would have liked to win, but against this Remco, that is difficult." The 25 seconds ahead of Jonas Vingegaard are a nice bonus. "I gained time on the rest, and I can be happy with that. Is Remco a threat to the overall classification now? Yes, of course. You never know. This is the Tour."

Continue reading below the photo!

Evenepoel has limited the gap to Pogacar to 33 seconds after the time trial. "He is getting closer and closer. I have to keep an eye on him. Yes, anything can still happen, but in this Tour, the tough stages come at the end." Pogacar foresees a war of attrition. "Everyone will be tired in the third week, and then the gaps will be bigger. Everything is close together now, but it is better to be in the lead," says the UAE Team Emirates leader, who shows no intention of giving up the jersey midway through the race.

Similar words were recorded at the post-race press conference. "We have seen how strong Remco is. He is the best time trialist of all. I can also be satisfied with my own time trial. But we shouldn't discount Jonas Vingegaard and Primoz Roglic either. Everyone is very close together. That’s why we probably have to wait until the real mountain stages come. My form is good. Still, it is difficult to draw conclusions now. The race is still too young. Most of the stages are yet to come. So much can still happen."

According to Pogacar, this year's Tour is "a bit strange and boring"

Pogacar did address it and elaborated on another question: the Tour is still long, and the real mountain stages are still to come. They are taking so long to come that the man from Komenda even called the Tour somewhat boring. "This year's Tour is honestly a bit strange. We had four interesting opening stages. But after that, there was nothing to look forward to. If there had not been a time trial, it would have been an entirely boring, strange Tour. There were so many flat stages where no one had the ambition to go on the attack."

"Tomorrow (Saturday, ed.) is another stressful day. Sunday is a stressful day...," Pogi emphasized his surprising statement. "Then comes the rest day, followed by yet another stressful day. Then another stressful day, and finally, we slowly but surely encounter the mountain stages. I feel good, but I can’t wait until we finally hit those climbing stages."

Finally, the all-rounder from Komenda also talked about Sunday's gravel stage (something stage winner Evenepoel also did). "I’m actually looking forward to it. I have reconned the stage a few times, so I know what to expect. It may not be the most fun stage, but it also depends on how we race. The wind and other meteorological conditions will also play a role. And it remains to be seen who has what ambition in the peloton. It can go any way. Everyone has specific and also different ambitions. I think I am ready for it. Normally, I do like a stage like that."