Two-time Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar (UAE Group Emirates) wasn’t on the route presentation for the 2024 race in Paris, but it surely was no shock to see he adopted it from his well-deserved vacation and favored what he noticed.
Pogačar’s was pencilled in as a rider who may probably problem the likes of Bernard Hinault and Eddy Merckx on the Tour de France titles leaderboard when he claimed his second yellow jersey at simply 22 years previous. Nevertheless, the final two French Grand Excursions have gone amiss for the Slovenian by the hands of Danish GC star, Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma).
The 2024 route was revealed on Wednesday with a distinct route in nature to the previous two editions, not solely because of the Good particular person time trial end but additionally the brutally troublesome remaining week. It’s an version that isn’t prone to be determined till that remaining race in opposition to the clock within the French Riviera on stage 21.
“The route is nice. I actually like the primary week, it’s just a little more durable than in previous years. You’ll have to arrive in good condition from the beginning of the Tour,” mentioned Pogačar to L’Equipe.
“There’s a distinction in altitude, finishes for the sprinters, two time trials, which is tremendous thrilling. The mountain phases are fairly regular, nothing out of the odd, but it surely appears actually good to me. Particularly the final three days, those the place I feel the race might be determined.”
The ultimate three phases may give rise to an entire overhaul within the common classification after 18 already difficult days of racing. Again-to-back summit finishes on phases 19 and 20 will see the Tour return to the Isola 2000 ski station within the southern Alps for the primary time since 1993.
Preluding the mountain-top end might be two equally troublesome ascents on the quick 145km stage – the Col de Vars to 2109 metres and the best highway in France at 2,802 metres as much as Cime de la Bonette.
Vingegaard will seemingly be favoured over his fierce competitor Pogačar given his exploits above 2000m previously two excursions, however do not rely the Slovenian out as these are technically residence roads that he may have spent hours coaching on as a Monaco resident.
“It’s not a basic finish to the Tour the place we maybe have a troublesome end on the final three phases; right here, the final three days are tremendous arduous, with out the Champs-Elysées normally reserved for sprinters,” mentioned Pogačar.
“The time trial between Monaco and Good is tremendous fascinating, I am actually wanting ahead to it however you’ll have to arrive at this remaining stage with good legs to win.
“Spending the Tour on roads the place I prepare many of the yr might be particular. Simply seeing the profiles on the finish of the Tour makes me smile. It actually is stuffed with promise”
Pogačar may have fond reminiscences of the summit end on stage 20, the Col de la Couillole (15.7km at 7.1%), having bettered Vingegaard atop it at this yr’s Paris-Good, however the stage that precedes it’s a far more gruelling activity. The three categorised climbs embrace different stalwarts from the Race to the Solar, the Col de Braus (10km at 6.6%), Col de Turini (20.7km at 5.7%) and Col de La Colmiane (7.5km at 7.1%).
Vingegaard was on the presentation and confirmed clear pleasure in regards to the issue degree of the 2024 Tour de France. He and Pogačar are already lined as much as be the large favourites for subsequent yr’s race alongside the Dane’s former teammate Primož Roglič, who just lately moved to Bora-Hansgrohe, and Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep).
Pogačar’s program for 2024 is undecided as of but with rumours of a Giro d’Italia debut circulating for the extremely versatile Slovenian, alongside a want to take Olympic gold in Paris. Nonetheless the two-time winner can also be certain to wish to return to his place on high of the Tour de France podium.
