Pogacar is ready to face Vingegaard and the strong Jumbo-Visma team: "Continuously improving"

After Vingegaard seemed to have the upper hand after an impressive performance on day five, Pogacar staged a remarkable comeback in the subsequent mountain stages, effectively closing the gap in Lauruns. Naturally, one of the first questions posed to the winner of the Tour of Flanders was about his perceived momentum. Without hesitation, Pogacar replied, "I do feel a certain momentum, not just in relation to Jonas, but overall. I am comfortable with myself and look back on the initial stages with satisfaction."

Confident in his abilities, Pogacar expresses that he does not anticipate getting "worse" as the three-week stage race progresses through France. Despite concerns raised by various cycling magazines, analyses, and programs regarding his lack of preparation, Pogacar remains unconvinced. On the contrary, he believes his performance will only get better. While acknowledging that he had a somewhat limited preparation leading up to the Tour, he points out that his strong performances in the spring have already laid a solid foundation. Although it's always possible to experience a downturn in the final week, Pogacar does not subscribe to that belief.

Vingegaard recently expressed that he feels the upcoming Alpine cols will suit him, but Pogacar also shared his personal fondness for the Alps during the press conference. He confidently stated, "We will see in those stages who can truly excel on them." Pogacar emphasized his thorough preparation, mentioning that he has carefully studied the stages and has ridden the climbs several times before. Additionally, he highlighted his continuous improvement on longer climbs each year, demonstrating his ambitious drive.

According to reports, Jumbo-Visma, the team with the yellow jersey wearer, believed that Pogacar's climbing performance on the Puy de Dôme was one of his best ever. When Pogacar was informed of this, the Slovenian champion couldn't help but laugh. "I have no knowledge of that. They don't have insight into my training or my performance data. They don't even know my weight. Of course, they can make assumptions, but I can assure you that my performance was good, although there is room for improvement."

Pogacar anticipates that Jumbo-Visma will target a specific stage to try and break him. "However, we have to wait and see. I will take each day as it comes and remain motivated to fend off any attacks. In fact, I am fully prepared to counter all of their plans. That's what I'm going to strive for," he concluded with a more nuanced statement. Pogacar's confidence was already evident from his constant jokes and playful behavior throughout the Tour. The cheerful and lively atmosphere of the Zoom meeting only served as further confirmation of his self-assurance.