Beaten by Remco Evenepoel twice in two successive Tour de France stages – is this a crisis for Tadej Pogačar?
Of course not, we’re being flippant, but Evenepoel’s win on Plateau de Solaison and then his dominant victory in stage 16’s time trial in Thonon-les-Bains was a reminder that Pogačar doesn’t quite have everything his own way as he marches towards a record-equalling fifth title.
And, as you’d expect, the Slovenian superstar said as much himself. That despite the world champion still boasting an advantage of 4:32 over Evenepoel in the GC after the TT; his UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammate Isaac Del Toro sits 6:51 adrift.
“He’s a contender since day one,” Pogačar said of Evenepoel after the time trial in which he finished as the runner-up, 28 seconds short of Evenepoel’s winning time. “I had good legs today, but he’s just a legend in the race against the clock. He’s one of the greatest, no doubt, and there’s no shame coming behind Remco.
“In the end I have to be happy with the result. Obviously I wanted to go for the win today and the legs were there, but he was just faster.
“I really wanted to make the best out of it and try to win. I was really motivated, I had good legs, but at the end of the day, he’s the best ever in time trialling.”
The following two stages are likely to end in a win for the breakaway, before the peloton finish atop Alpe d’Huez on stages 19 and 20. Consecutive defeats by Evenepoel has fuelled Pogačar’s desire to add to his tally of four stage wins and counting in this year’s race.
“It gives me a bit more fire for the next days to get another win,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the next days in the Alps.”
Speaking about the iconic Alpe d’Huez, Pogačar said that was anticipating a “crazy” atmosphere, with hundreds of thousands of fans expected on the mountain.
“I am kinda happy that Urška Žigart [his partner and AG Insurance-Soudal rider] isn’t coming with my car like last time in 2022,” Pogačar laughed. “I remember how dirty the car was with all of the people touching it and shaking the car. I’m glad I don’t have my personal car up there this time.
“With the two hardest stages finishing in Alpe d’Huez, I’m expecting it to be insane. At the Markstein [on stage 14] I had never seen crowds like it, but Alpe d’Huez there will be even more. It’s going to be fantastic. I hope nothing goes wrong and it’s going to be a great end to the Tour.”
