At the World Cup in Rwanda, the reigning champion looks for his revenge after the time trial won by EnnePoel (who passed it): “On the time trial bike I did not find the right sensations, but passing to the road one has changed everything”
They immediately ask him if you still consider the favorite number one on Sunday, after being reached and overtaken just five days ago in the time trial by Remco Evenepoel, and Tadej Pogacar’s response is all a program: «It will be different. It will be another story ». On the fourth floor of the hotel with a view of the hills of the center of Kigali (the same of Italy), the world champion has the smile of the best days and is ready to go hunting for the consecutive encore in this first, and historical, African world championship, in Rwanda. «Yes, I have always participated in the World Cup since 2019 but this is historical, something never seen before. I feel it inside me, and I’m ready ».
Tadej, what happened in the time trial no longer matters?
“I came here mainly for the road test. Of course the expectations are tall. Of all, my mine. I also want to demonstrate the best version of myself, and I know that my Slovenia (which also matters on Roglic and Mohoric; ed) is one of the strongest teams. On the chrono bike I have not found the right sensations but passing to the road I feel that everything has changed”.
It has been in Rwanda for more than a week. How is it found?
“I am happy to have arrived in time to acclimatize myself at best, even at the altitude. Every day that passes I feel more comfortable. As for the atmosphere, it is fantastic. If there are already so many people on the path these days, I imagine on Sunday. The roads to pedal are good and I have made one of the best training of the whole year. I made them “.
There are those who say that sometimes she commit tactical errors in the race, and that those who can take advantage of it can beat it. Is that so?
“You know, in practice I always run the big races as a favorite and yes, the mistakes captain. Sometimes, you must also try to do something different, you don’t have to be predictable. And it may happen that to win you must first risk losing”.
Two Pogacars are also said: one very calm and quiet when it is not on a bike, an aggressive and competitive fearful one when it is in the running. Does it agree?
“I agree, but I think it is the same for more than 50 percent of the runners. One thing is everyday life, one thing is the competition. It is true that when I don’t pedal I consider me a normal boy, as there are many”.
The season was long, demanding. Are you already thinking about the holidays?
“Yes and no. It is true that I started early, in February at the UEE Tour. I made all the great classics of spring, the tour, the world championship. And afterwards there will be the European and Lombardy. Always to win. For now, however, I think only of the goals, at the right time I will enjoy the rest”.
What part of the path does it prefer, now that he tried it in full?
“Of the climbs, the most suitable for me is the longest one, the Mont Kigali. Too bad it is so far from the finish line (exactly 104 kilometers; ed), I would have preferred differently. Even if …”.
“Our coach, Uros Murn, claims that the best part for me is the final one, because everyone will be very tired”.
He sees some similarity between the pavé that is located on the world championship and that of the Ladre lap of Flanders, for example?
“No, none. They are totally different. I have the impression that each stone is different from the other. But here it is tackled uphill and should not be too influential”.
Giulio Ciccone said he imagined the desire for revenge that she will have after the time trial. Will it really be so big? Do you want to take a sporting revenge?
“Probably Remco also wanted to close a circle, because in turn he had been overtaken by Vingegaard in the toner of the tour. Who knows, maybe on Sunday he will touch me to take away that feeling of when someone exceeds you in a time trial, because it is certainly not pleasant”.
“We have already talked about Evenepoel, in the time trial flew … Then there are my teammates to the UAE, like Del Toro and Vine. Pidcock came out well from Vuelta. But I prefer to think about what I will have to do”.
Did he think he could have trained for the last time in the world jersey?
“Yes. But let’s do this, leave on Sunday evening …”.
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