The second place of Tadej pogacar keep making noise. There's nothing we can do about it: it's the destiny of champions. But we're more interested in substance than noise. It's interesting to understand what went wrong. It's interesting to know how the Slovenian reacted. And who else? Joxean Fernandez Matxin could you help us on this journey?
Spanish is one of the technical, but also psychological minds of the UAE Emirates. Nobody knows athletes like him, including Pogacar. A handful of days after the end of the Tour de France and with a slightly cooler head, we can make the first considerations.
Matxin, what do you think of Pogacar's Tour?
My impression is that Tadej was at a good level. A level very, very similar to the one he was at when he won. jonas vingegaard he didn't make a single mistake, Tadej was not at his best for just one day and made a “mistake” that marked the entire Tour.
So his values were good?
Yes, I repeat, very similar to when he won. We have to give Vingegaard credit for being stronger. His triumph was well deserved.
So for you, did just one day, the Granon, have an impact on the entire Tour?
That day he lost 3′, if we think about it, it's a bit like when Pogacar beat Roglic in the famous time trial. That day he put in a super performance, and the other had a bad moment. Then it's also true that on the day of the cobblestones, if Van Aert hadn't been there, Vingegaard would have lost 3 minutes and it would have been a different race altogether. But I repeat, Jonas deserved it.
You know him, so will Tadej roll up his sleeves and work even harder now? Maybe next year we'll see him super skinny so he can go faster on the climbs?
Of course he'll work. It's obvious. Someone like Tadej must think he can win the Tour de France. What I don't understand is that... Up until now it was a phenomenon that should not have affected anything and now something must change. I say no. I say it's fine this way, on the uphill, on the flat, in the attitude towards defeat and towards one's teammates. It will take even more anger to win, even more desire. As true champions do. But this rider is special like that.
You've certainly analyzed the Granon debacle: there was talk of nutritional problems, of the fact that Tadej sweated more than the others...
We always keep an eye on everything and control every aspect of the rider and the race from kilometer zero. As for the nutrition part, we have Gorka Prieto-Bellver, who in my opinion is the best in this sector. He has our trust and the boys trust him. Then there is the fact that during the race, in moments of great commitment and tension like those he experienced on the Galibier, Pogacar may not have been perfectly nourished, did not consume sufficient carbohydrates.
There was tension, that's inevitable. But as Gianetti said that same evening at Granon, growth also comes from moments like these...
Pogacar made eight sprints, eight attacks to close the gap, but the others who attacked him also made attacks, and it wasn't just Tadej who wasted energy. Pogacar is simply human. It was like that before too, only he hadn't had "bad days" at certain times and, as I repeat, he found a great opponent. I'm not entirely convinced that second place is a no-brainer. Nor that it was even a foregone conclusion. Especially at the end of such a hard-fought Tour that people love so much.
Well yes, they gave it to her…
Van Aert, who for me was the best rider of the Tour, was superb. But even in this case, Tadej starts in the yellow jersey like Wout, right. Only Pogacar is also fighting for the general classification, Van Aert is notAnd Tadej's yellow shots have another meaning.
In your opinion, how much of an impact did finding yourself with a... UAE Emirates bandaged up before the start?
A lot, a lot. We had a squadron. We had the strength to fight against anyone and on any terrain at any time. On the day he won Jungels, George Bennett He's proven to be one of the Tour's top climbers. There were 15 of them left when he was pushing and had a lead. Losing someone like that, I think, makes a difference, right? Majka: on the Granon before Vingegaard attacked there were four left. One was him, one was Tadej, one was Jonas and one was Thomas. Soler, could have closed in at least three of the moves that changed the Tour, but he was feeling bad. And then Trentino. Well, not having had a capable, strong rider who sees the race like Matteo was a great loss.
Certainly, and this is a fact, things have not gone well for you…
Absolutely not. I am convinced, indeed I am certain of what I say, that the UAE Emirates at most it was stronger than the Jumbo-Visma. I believe in my riders; I know their capabilities perfectly. And I have the data to back it up. And I will defend them to the death.
It seems Pogacar has come to terms with his defeat, but what now? Will he seek redemption starting with the Vuelta, or is it official that he won't be in Spain?
There won't be one, we said it and I repeat it. From now until the end of the season Tadej will only do one-day races, starting in San Sebastian tomorrow, then he will race in Plouay, do the Canadian races, the world championship and the Italian classics at the end of the season.
