PARIS — Tadej Poga?ar is geared up for what could be his fourth victory in the Tour de France, supported by a strong UAE Team Emirates lineup. The 26-year-old Slovenian cyclist, renowned for his versatility, will rely on a team composed of seasoned riders primed to tackle the challenge of this taxing three-week event. Fresh from a stellar year, Poga?ar clinched the Critérium du Dauphiné, showcasing his formidable form. The prestigious Tour de France is set to begin on July 5 in Lille, located in the north of France.
Five members of the Critérium du Dauphiné will join Poga?ar in his Tour quest — Jhonatan Narváez, Nils Politt, Pavel Sivakov, Marc Soler, and Tim Wellens. Completing this formidable lineup are João Almeida and Adam Yates. Poga?ar’s capability to conquer diverse terrains has already seen him triumph in several significant races this year, including the Tour of Flanders, Strade Bianche, Liège–Bastogne–Liège, and the Flèche Wallonne. His remarkable drive and numerous victories have led to comparisons with cycling legend Eddy Merckx.
Brimming with confidence, Poga?ar expressed his eagerness for the Tour’s commencement, stating, “I’m excited for the Tour to start. I’m lucky to have had close to the perfect preparation this year — everything has gone really smoothly, especially coming off a great altitude camp with my teammates. The vibes in the team are amazing right now, and that gives me a lot of confidence.” Achieving another win would place him alongside Chris Froome with the fifth most Tour victories in history. Only Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain have claimed cycling’s biggest prize five times.
Jonas Vingegaard, twice a Tour champion and current leader of the Visma-Lease a Bike team, is expected to be Poga?ar’s main competitor. Reflecting on the unpredictable nature of the Tour de France, Poga?ar shared, “Of course, you can never be fully prepared for something like the Tour de France — it’s unpredictable, and that’s part of what makes it so special. I’m expecting a very high level from all the other top riders.” With the race comprising six mountain stages, five mountain finishes, and two time trials, the competition promises to be intense.
Poga?ar anticipates an exciting opening with initial stages designed to be open and aggressive, followed by a challenging final week filled with iconic climbs. He remarked, “The first few days should be really exciting for the fans with some open, aggressive stages, and the last week is very climbing-heavy with some iconic stages. It’s going to be a big fight all the way to Paris, but I’m ready to give everything.” As Poga?ar and his team prepare to embark on this monumental race, cycling enthusiasts worldwide watch in eager anticipation to see if he will add another victory to his growing list of achievements.