Exclusive | ‘They bring my best out of my best’ – Tedes Pogkar on rivalry with Jonas Winggard, REMCO Anipel ahead of Tour Day France. More sports news

Tadej Pogacar Tour Day enters France – the oldest and most prestigious multi -stage cycle race – as a clear favorite. Criterium du dupahin raised his credibility as the condition of winning. He is a three -time tour de France winner and the 21 stage race defending champion on 5 July.Pogakar has 99 professional win in the race in France, so it will be almost certainly hitting its centenary mark during the race of more than 3,300 km.Go beyond the border with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!26 -year -old Slovenian Pogkar won in six phases in the previous year’s edition and escaped with a overall win.The team UAE Rider is even stronger in 2025, there is a lot of arguments to say that.

Race General Director Christian Prudome said, “That is why the first week is probably the most important first week in the years. Pogkar’s rivals have an opportunity to put him on the back leg.”The two -time Pogkar -challenging two -time tour day France winner Jonas is the Winggard of Visma, who is considered to be the largest rival of Slovenian, and Remco Anapel who represents Team Saudal.“We want someone to give him a run for his money, Jonas Vingagard or REMCO Unfel or actually someone else,” said Prudome. “We are expecting suspense and we will be happy with all out scraps.”Pogakar labeled herself “a good boy from a good family who did not take any shortcuts in life”. He has both Swagger and Vinay to go with his new deal of € 50 million over the next six years.

Tadej Pogacar (Image Source: Swpix.com)

Timesofindia.com Talked to Tadej Pogacar in its early days, which makes TDF special and the technology of the game that does not pay attention to anyone. Part:You have won Tour Day France three times at such a young age – what did you get in cycling initially, and were you going?I started cycling because my elder brother was riding, and I wanted to do what he was doing. I was just a child riding around Slovenia, not thinking about Tour Day France. Over time, I fell in love with the game. Freedom, landscape, feeling of advancing your boundaries – this is that this attracts me. Winning is very good, of course, but love for the ride has always been the core. Whether it is my team UAE Emirates team colleagues a hard 5 -hour training ride or an easy hour coffee ride with my fiancé Urska, I love every aspect of cycling.Cycling is known for its physical demands, but how mental it is? How do you prepare your mind for a three -week race like Tour Day France?It is very mental. The body has boundaries, but the mind often kills them before doing the legs. I try to be comfortable – I do not uproot too much. The key is a good atmosphere with your peers, joke around, listen to music. If your head is in a good place, you are better suffering. Although it is still difficult, no one is escaping from that part!For a new person for cycling, what is the race like Giro D’Atalia or Tour de France compared to other sports events?Tour Day France is the main race for many people outside cycling, but if you scratch the surface slightly then you have some other races that are simply difficult and beautiful. For example fall and vulta, or one -day memorial race.Gorgeous tourism, however, is additional – it is a mixture of tradition, chaos and beauty. Through history, Alps, Running through the previous palace, fans, who are camping there and are waiting for all days and shouting with all the flags and horns. And this is not just a day – it is a three -week drama. Anything can happen. They are some of the most beautiful events that you will see in the game.

Tadej Pogacar (Image Source: Swpix.com)

How do you see the stages of different climbing from time testing or flat stages? Can you walk us through your head when the mountain is over?In the steps of climbing, it is more instinct. You are listening to your feet, shield, air. The flat stages are more about staying safe and are not being caught out with partitions. It is important in both scenarios that your team partners are to work together and stay out of trouble.Time Testing – They are more accurate and you are following a pacing strategy with some watts etc. It is very controlled.Nutrition and recovery seems important in cycling – what does a specific day of eating and recovery look for you during a grand tour?Tour de France is very large in a platform race like nutrition and recovery and probably the biggest advance in cycling in the last five years. Nutrition was not taken seriously in the past – you only ate when you were hungry, tried to save the calories and just guessed how you were feeling. Since I joined the UAE, they have hired a team of two nutritionists and chefs who are constantly monitoring the quantity and quality of food we consume. It is more scientific even 5 years ago. We burn a lot of calories, so we eat a lot. Our nutrition sponsor enervit also works hard to easily make digestible bar and gels so that we can take as much energy as possible on the bike.

Tadej Pogacar (Image Source: Swpix.com)

You have had some famous battles with riders like Jonas Wingguard and REMCO EPL – does you push those rivals to improve you?They are both great rival. For fans I think it is a good time to see racing, many great champions and are exciting to see racing. Running them shocked me because I know that if I am not in my best form, they will make it very difficult. They bring the best to me – and I hope I will do the same for them. What a game should this be.With a rapid team-oriented with cycling, how do you balance personal ambition with teamwork?You do not win a grand tour alone, it is sure. Even if you cross the line first, this is the team behind you – they control the race, they pull, they protect. My ambition is, of course, but my companions are my friends, and I want us all successful. When they believe in me, I ride hard for them.