With the Tour de France just around the corner, all eyes are on UAE Team Emirates’ Slovenian rider Tadej Pogacar, who is in exceptional form heading into the prestigious event. Pogacar has had an incredible season so far, winning multiple races including the Giro d’Italia, the Liege-Bastogne-Liege Monument classic, the Tour of Catalunya, and the Strade Bianche one-day race. He is now looking to become the first rider since 1998 to claim a Giro/Tour double. Pogacar will be supported by a strong team featuring climbers Adam Yates, Pavel Sivakov, Joao Almeida, Marc Soler, and Juan Ayuso.
On the other hand, defending champion Jonas Vingegaard, who has been recovering from serious injuries, enters the Tour de France with no competitive preparation. The Danish rider suffered fractures to his collarbone and rib, as well as a collapsed lung in a crash less than three months ago and has not raced since. Despite being fit, Vingegaard will need to be competitive from the outset of the race, as the competition is expected to be fierce. His team has also been hit by the late withdrawal of Sepp Kuss, who is recovering from a Covid infection.
The Tour de France is set to kick off with an explosive start, featuring seven categorized climbs in the first stage. The first three stages will be on hilly terrain, making for a challenging start to the three-week event. Groupama-FDJ manager Marc Madiot predicts an early break by Pogacar to pre-empt any challenges, highlighting the importance of a strong start for the riders. With high mountain climbs beginning in the fourth stage as the peloton heads from Italy to France, the competition is expected to intensify quickly.
In addition to Pogacar and Vingegaard, other contenders for the Tour de France include three-time Vuelta champion Primoz Roglic and Belgian prodigy Remco Evenepoel, both aiming for podium finishes. The race will start in Florence and for the first time, will not end in Paris. The final time trial will be held between Monaco and Nice, as the Tour’s route avoids Paris due to the upcoming Olympics. British cyclist Mark Cavendish will also be a key attraction as he seeks to break his record of 34 stage wins and potentially secure a victory in his final season before retirement.
Overall, the Tour de France promises to be an exciting and highly competitive event, with top riders vying for the coveted title. As Pogacar aims to continue his winning streak and potentially clinch the double, Vingegaard faces the challenge of quickly finding his competitive form after a lengthy recovery period. With multiple strong contenders in the field, including Roglic, Evenepoel, and Cavendish, fans can expect intense battles on the road and thrilling finishes throughout the race. As the Tour gets underway, cycling enthusiasts around the world will be watching closely as the drama unfolds on the iconic roads of France.
