If Jumbo-Visma is dealing with press rumours that would like Van Aert will start the Giro, giving up the Tour to focus on the Olympics, in home UAE Emirates (Fizza photo in the opening) we talk about the future with the possible involvement in the French challenge of Juan Ayuso and Joao AlmeidaAll this while Pogacar is busy in the Criterium d'Orient of the Tour de France and is making unrestrained statements, giving a feeling of real fun: «My goal for 2024? Have fun and take that rainbow jersey off Van der Poel».
It is possible that to counter the Dutch team (which losing Roglic has still reduced its offensive capacity, but still has Vingegaard, Kuss and Van Aert), the Emirati team decides to focus on a sort of dream team, alongside Pogacar and Yates, also Ayuso and Almeida?
Pogacar and the Tour
We talked about the Slovenian's words on the balance of the Tour in the latest editorial: it will no longer be a duel between Jumbo-Visma and UAE Emirates, but there will also be Roglic's Bora-Hansgrohe and the strengthening Ineos Grenadiers to consider.
«I am very satisfied with the route of the next Tour – added the Slovenian – the two time trials are interesting as is the dirt stage, but there will also be a lot of competition in the last few days around Nice. I'm told that Vingegaard gave the 2024 Tour an 8, I would give it a 9, especially since we end up in the area where I live and train.».
Ayuso and the Tour
At the same time, Juan Ayuso spoke about the Tour, who in the same UAE Emirates he appears as a predestined one. And now, after having gained experience for two seasons at the Vuelta, wants to compete on French roads. In reality It would do him and the Giro a lot of good if he came to compete here, but it seems that for now the discussion is not making any headway.
«The idea – said the Spaniard in the same Madrid Criterium won by Van der Poel – is to make my Tour debut next year and see how it goes. Pogacar is currently number one and it is normal that he goes to the Tour as leaderBut as we saw at the Vuelta, it's smart to have more riders in the classification. I still have more experience to gain, my body has to continue to develop.I'm getting better every year and I don't feel like I'm stagnating in my development. If I continue like this, I will eventually reach the level of the best».
Almeida and the Tour
And Almeida? The Portuguese had spoken after the Giro, when he knew he would also have to do the Vuelta. And just when he told... the pride of having conquered the podium of Rome behind Roglic and Thomas, declared his desire for the Tour. It is not at all excluded that Joao could return to the Giro in 2024, but then the UAE Emirates could accommodate his desire to tackle a major Giro alongside Pogacar.
«I think I have to go up another level to be there with the strongest – he reiterated recently returning to the topic – but You have to take your time, things require gradualness and I think I'm on the right trackIn 2023 I did the Giro and the Vuelta, next year it would be nice to do the Tour».
Tadej's plans
Who knows whether all this translates into pressure for Pogacar or whether the Slovenian manages to let it slide with the usual lightness. The fact remains that, with the usual great elegance, Tadej is careful not to declare that his only focus is on the Tour de France..
«If I made my own calendar – he says – probably I wouldn't win many races, because I would like to participate in all of them. This is why it is a task for the team's managers. I would like to win the Giro and also the Vuelta, but I don't know my plan for 2024 yet.. Besides, my best moment of the year was victory at the Tour of Flanders against Van der Poel. Mathieu is very nice, a friend, but also a great rival. If we met in the same races, a rivalry like the one between him and Van Aert could ignite between us.He's one of the best riders in the world, actually the best, given the jersey he wears. If I were a kid now, Van der Poel would be my hero."
