Tadej Pogacar downplays the Tour's hopes — but is it all a big bluff?

Most bookies see Tadej Pogacar as a joint favorite with Jonas Vingegaard or slightly behind him. Photo: Reuters/Stephane Mahe

Were these mind games? Recognition of self-doubt? Be that as it may, Tadej Pogacar said at his last press conference before the race on Thursday that he was «not 100% sure» of his form ahead of Saturday's first stage of the Tour de France in Bilbao due to an injury. wrist that he received. in April, and having Britain's Adam Yates be his «co-leader» in UAE Team Emirates this year added hot peppers to the peloton.

For months this Tour has been billed as a straight brawl between two-time champion Pogacar and last year's winner Jonas Vingegaard. Between UAE Team Emirates and Wingegaard's intimidatingly powerful Jumbo-Visma team, which of course includes Wout van Aert, a cycling Swiss army knife that can break through any stage.

Suddenly we were told by Pogacar. he still only has «70 percent mobility» in his scaphoid from the Liège-Bastogne-Liège crash and insists it «doesn't matter who's ahead» of himself and Yeats as long as one of them wins . .

Maybe Pogacar broke down before this tour started?

Don't bet on it. The bookmakers are certainly not convinced, most of them see the Slovenian as a joint favorite with Vingegor or only marginally behind him.

For months, this tour has been presented as a straight-line showdown between two-time champion Pogacar and last year's winner Vingegor. Photo: Getty Images/Marco Bertorello

You can see why. Pogacar may not yet have full mobility in the scaphoid. He may not have raced much in the past few weeks (with the exception of the Slovenian national championship, in which he won both road and time trial titles). And Team Emirates from the UAE could well afford Yates' protected rider status as a backup.

But Pogacar is so incredibly talented that he defies convention.

The 24-year-old doesn't have to follow the «traditional» route to the Tour. Just a few weeks ago, he tore the legs off his spring classic rivals, quickly winning the Tour of Flanders, the Amstel Gold Race and La Flèche Wallonne, nearly knocking Mickey out of the one-night specialists. Ordinary grand tour winners don't do that.

The broken wrist happened «at just the right time»

Granted, Pogacar hasn't ridden a bike for a while, but just a week ago he was in contention. Another interview said that the wrist fracture he suffered in April happened «at the perfect time» for him and that his preparation was «really good '.

Geraint Thomas told Telegraph Sport last week that he did not think the dismissal would slow down the Slovenian career. “It will still smash the turbo, which if you have the head for it is so good. Look at Eddie Dunbar [who finished seventh at the Giro d'Italia despite breaking his arm earlier this season]. He fired up the turbo and immediately returned.

“Well, he's missing a little. endurance. But I think it [his injury] will be of great benefit to Pogacar after a busy start to the season and it will be a really interesting and challenging race.”

One thing is for sure: no one would be surprised if Pogacar won Saturday's ultra-difficult opening stage — a rough race with more than 3,300 meters of climbing, including a steep final ramp — and kept the yellow color all the way to Paris.

Tem however, Pogacar's press conference might just cheer up his rivals as the Tour is filled with interesting storylines.

Tour de France talking points

Maybe someone else will be able to get into the general classification mix this year? Tom Pidcock of Ineos, another generational talent, says he wants to see how high he can finish GC this year. The Yorkshireman is just one of those riders who can do something crazy. Maybe Yates, who finished fourth in 2016, will indeed become the number one in the UAE?

Apart from the battle for the overall title, we have a mouth-watering prospect of Mark Cavendish in his last round, who claims victory. stage record by Eddy Merckx. The first stage of the sprint will take place on Monday, and all eyes will be on Manxman.

So many potential topics for conversation. Fred Wright, who came close so many times last year, will once again attempt his first Tour stage win. This time around, the Londoner will do it in the British Champions jersey with an emotional victory over Saltburn Bank last week, which he dedicated to Bahrain-Merida teammate Gino Madera, who tragically died after a crash in Switzerland a few weeks ago.< /p> Fred Wright, who came close so many times last year, will once again try to take his first Tour stage win. Getty Images/Dario Belingheri

It's a battle for the yellow jersey between Pogacar and Vingegor, who just picked up a recent dominating win at the Criterium du Dauphine that will take center stage nonetheless. Who will emerge victorious?

“Jonas is the main hero of the Tour de France,” Pogacar insisted on Thursday with a slight smile. «He dominated the Dauphine and said he wasn't in the best shape so I can't wait to see what he does at the Tour.»

He was bluffing? We'll find out soon.