COPENHAGEN (AFP) – With just one day to go before the Grand Depart of the Tour de France in Denmark, Tadej Pogacar, the reigning double champion, issued a clear warning to those hoping to dethrone him.
The world’s most prestigious bicycle race will start in Copenhagen on Friday (July 1), with a large crowd of 30,000 fans attending the unveiling of the teams on Wednesday, signaling strong local support for the three opening stages in Denmark.
Pogacar, who at 23 is considered one of the best cyclists in the world, was full of confidence. “I can’t wait,” said the Slovenian star. “We are all ready. We have a strong team, and it’s just about not stressing too much until Friday.”
The opening stage, a 13.2km individual time trial around Copenhagen’s streets, could face rain. Pogacar acknowledged the challenge. “I don’t know what to think about the time trial, but I’m ready. It will be fast and technically difficult,” he said.
Despite the pressure, Pogacar remains calm, reflecting on his surprising victory in 2020 and successfully defending his title last year. “Everyone seems stressed, but we are confident,” he added.
For Jonas Vingegaard of Jumbo-Visma, the goal is to survive the first week rather than take risks. However, his teammate Wout Van Aert, widely regarded as one of the world’s best one-day riders, plans to make a strong start. “Wearing the yellow jersey at the beginning of the race has been a big goal for me this season,” said the Belgian, who is among the favorites for the opening stage.
The crowds along the roadside left Van Aert surprised. “After two years, it’s amazing to have such large crowds at the Grand Depart,” he added.
One of Van Aert’s biggest rivals could be Italy’s Filippo Ganna, the world time-trial champion from Ineos. Ganna, who won the Giro d’Italia’s opening time trial in May, expressed his desire for the yellow jersey. “Lots of people want this jersey, so it won’t be easy,” said Ganna. “I want it for my museum.”
The 2018 champion, Geraint Thomas, is racing in his 12th Tour de France and promises an aggressive approach from his Ineos team. “We’ll be racing aggressively, as we’ve done all season,” he said, signaling his intent to challenge the leaders.
On a darker note, Danish police raided the Bahrain Victorious team’s hotel early Thursday morning. After two hours of searching the team’s cars, no items were seized. The raid led to an awkward press conference where the team declined to comment on the matter, and reporters focused only on the issue.
Covid-19 also loomed over the event, with around ten riders pulling out due to positive tests, making it a taboo subject ahead of the start.
The race will continue after the opening stage with a 202.5km second stage on Saturday, running from Roskilde to Nyborg. The stage features a 20km crossing of the Great Belt Bridge, where the peloton will face possible strong crosswinds from the sea.
Sunday’s final day in Denmark will cover 182km from Vejl to Sonderborg, a region with over 300km of bike paths. Denmark, where cycling is highly popular, sees five times more bike journeys than car trips.
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