TAddej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), winner on Sunday of his fourth Tour de France, assured that equaling the record of five victories on the Great Loop was not a real objective and that he would be happy with his successes if his career had to stop. The 26 -year -old Slovenian joined the Briton Chris Froome and is only in a length of the record of five victories on the Tour held by the French Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault, as well as by the Belgian Eddy Merckx and the Spaniard Miguel Indurain
“I am at a point in my career or if I have a burn-out, I can stop my career and I would be happy with what I have accomplished,” he said at a press conference on Sunday, when he was asked if he was worried about a possible burn-out. “Seriously, burnouts exist in sport. We train a lot. Sometimes we, cyclists, are a little too obsessed with training. Everyone wants to train even more, ”he added. “The burnouts exist and it can also happen to me. »»
Read too The Tour de France on the sofa of Erik Orsenna: “A need for love!” »» The world champion seemed tired in the third week and did not hide the kilometers until the arrival in Paris. “I was a little tired in the last week to be honest,” he recognized on Sunday. “But I don’t want to talk about what has not been, I want to take advantage of this moment in Paris with the yellow jersey. »»
“Maybe the Worlds this year, and the Tour of Lombardy”
Tadej Pogacar lived a very intense first part of the season since he aligned himself with the majority of spring classics, from Strade Bianche in March to the Ardennes races at the end of April, including Flanders. “Pogi” proved that he had the capacity to shine on all terrains like Eddy Merckx, finishing second in Paris-Roubaix for his first participation while he won a second round of Flanders and Liège-Bastogne-Liège for the third time.
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The now quadruple winner of the Tour is not projected for the moment on the future and its participation in the Tour of Spain, which still lacks in its record, remains uncertain. “I don’t think about any other race there. I just want to go back to the bus with my teammates and enjoy the evening, “he said. “It is not the objective of winning five laps from France. I have no clear goals. Perhaps the Worlds this year, and the Tour of Lombardy. »»
He could defend his world title at the end of September in Kigali, Rwanda, and try to win a fifth round of a consecutive Lombardy in October. His rival Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease A Bike), double winner of the Tour and second of the general this year more than four minutes from the Slovenian, should align with the Vuelta, which begins on August 23. “There is not much time, but I already did it two years ago and for me, at the time, it had worked rather well and I hope it will still be the case this year,” said the Danish, who has also never won the Tour of Spain.
