It can't be easy standing there next to each other for the second year in a rowThere are riders who could build their career on a second place in the Tour and two stage wins, But if your name is Tadej Pogacar, maybe it's not enough. So when he speaks in the last conference and in the snippets of statements here and there, it seems like he's returning home from a demanding educational trip.
«Obviously the desire was to win – he says – but considering everything, I think second place is a really amazing result for the team and for me too.So yes, I'm super happy to be back here in Paris, especially on the podium. And for the last time in the white jersey. I'm not young anymore... (smiles, ed.)
How did you handle the ups and downs?
I knew that sooner or later days would come like the one in Courchevel and, if not days, maybe moments. I don't think it'll be the last time someone pushes me to the limit. I think I can learn something from what happened. And if it happens again, I'll know what to expect.
There's a lot of talk about your rivalry with Vingegaard, what more can be said?
We are running in a beautiful cycling and we push each other to the limitI think we can all be happy with how we're doing right now. At the same time, we also have to think that it's just a cycling race and that we should enjoy every moment we can have.
You speak well, but you're the first to turn up your nose. Yesterday you received congratulations for your stage win. Do you think you deserve them today for your second place?
Nobody should congratulate me (laughs, ed.) if they don't want to. I'm very happy with everything this Tour has brought me.Two stage wins, two of us on the podium, second place for the team in the final classification and once again the white jersey. For me this remains a good Tour and an excellent season. Something I'm proud of, despite the ups and downs.
What was different on Saturday that allowed you to win?
I felt myself again, that was the big difference. I hadn't been there in the last week, and those closest to me had noticed. On the Joux Plane and before that on the Grand Colombier, I didn't look well and in fact I didn't feel very well. Day after day, I was getting worse. But what happened to me on the Col de la Loze, I really have no explanation.
How did you deal with it?
Everyone experiences something similar at some point in their career. One of those days when you feel useless. That's why I'm happy to have recovered at the end of the Tour. I went been walking around pale for a week, now my face has color again.
After those defeats, did it occur to you to plan the season differently?
I don't know why I should, I like challenges. This year my big challenge was to win the first Paris-Nice and then do my best in the three big classics: Milan-Sanremo, Tour of Flanders and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. I tried to win all three. Will we do differently next year? It's too early now. All I can say is that 90 percent I'll go back to Tour and I'll try to win it again.
Meanwhile, Giannetti continues to call you the best cyclist in the world, because you compete in all the races.
I love cycling and I'm always in good shape in the spring. Why not use that shape for a race like the Tour of Flanders? Here's who I am, what I like to do, and what I'm proud of.I can compete in many different competitions, on all terrains.
Did you learn anything from this Tour?
That when I feel super bad, I can still suffer: this is the greatest lesson for me. I also learned that it's worth keeping biting. For this I also want to thank everyone who continued to motivate me: my team, my family, the fans, even the people on social media… You have to survive the bad times and keep hoping for better times.. It's worth it in the end.
Are you coming to the Giro?
The Giro is one of my favorite races and I've never managed to do it. I can only say that it's difficult. The Tour remains the Tour, the greatest of all.And combining them and making the general classification twice is almost impossible in modern cycling. Furthermore, my hunger to win the Tour again after these two second places has only increased.
Will you be at the World Cup?
If you'd asked me two days ago, I definitely would have said no. Now I don't know. We'll see how I feel when I get home next week and relax a bit. The fact is that the world cup This year's race is complicated, it comes at a bad time. On the other hand, I've always enjoyed racing it. So I'm not promising anything, but I'd like to go..
