The director of the TOur of Francia, Christian Prudhomme, He rubs his hands with the rivalry between The Vingergaard Tadej Tadejwhich compares to what they had for years Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer, And although he confesses that the Slovenian is the clear favorite, he says that “he can be won,” especially taking advantage of the options offered by the tour in his first ten stages.
“We are facing a Tour in which everything is possible. Pogacar It is the favorite, especially after the demonstration he made in the Dauphinébut nobody knows what can happen, “he says Prudhomme A day before the race in Lille begins in northern France.
The Slovenian seeks his fourth victory in the Tour and the organizer of the race knows well the danger that his superiority would kill the suspense a bit, but at the same time he rangs before a rivalry that, he says, “It is attracting more young to cycling.”
The Danish visma cyclist will be the great rival of Tadej Pogacar for the Tour de France.
For him, the suspense key that always pursues in the race passes because the rivals of Pogacaramong which he quotes Awesome And to the Belgian Remco Evenepoelsecond and third of the last edition, take advantage of the “traps” offered by the tour “in the first ten days”, which have a “trapTojo” profile.
“The first ten days are important and complex. It will not be easy to control the race. Awesome has surpassed a Pogacar When his team was better. Today is not the case except in the flat terrain. They have a group that is formidable in Llano, “he says Prudhomme.
El Factor Van Aert
He adds that “the possible victory of Awesome It will depend a lot on the state of form of Wout van Aert, which is an exceptional corridor, with an incredible human quality, which is emptied to help its leader. “
We analyze the state of the top candidates
“And Van Aert It is full, they have material to disturb Pogacar In the first ten days, “he said.
The director of the race assured that he has sought “the minimum level” offered Tour.
“I am convinced that in the first days there will be a fight among the favorites for the general. UNot or another will attack, even if it is only to achieve two or three seconds, but it will allow to see the status of the forces of each“He said.
Prudhomme Consider that hostilities will begin this Sunday in Boulogne-sur-Mer, But it also points to the days of Ruan, vire and Britain wall.
To this is added that weather conditions can be complicated with rain and wind, which “offers well -organized teams possibilities to gain time.”
The director of Tour He believes that they live a good moment, with a nourished rivalry and with “daring” runners that give show.
“Nothing is more beautiful than a duel,” he says Prudhommewhich dates back to other great times of cycling like the hand in hand they signed Anquetil and Poulidor, Merckx and Ocaña.
“In addition, I see that younger and younger ones are interested in cycling. And that is due to runners that attack from afar and rivalry, “he says.
