Mikkel Bjerg is smiling broadly, talking animatedly and looks completely relaxed. There’s a simple reason for this, the young Dane has just finished the Tour de France’s final time trial between Libourne and Saint-Émilion and knows that his roommate and UAE Team Emirates leader Tadej PogaÄar is destined to win the coveted yellow jersey for the second year in a row.
What’s the secret to PogaÄar’s success, Bjerg is asked? “While we’re all suffering, Tadej’s just smiling and having fun,” he says. “It’s been hard mentally for me and the other guys trying to keep Tadej out of trouble, although he does keep himself out of trouble very well…”
In what was widely described as the hardest Tour in recent memory, due to the crashes, the weather, and the sheer intensity of the racing, PogaÄar’s uncanny ability to avoid the many pitfalls that lie in wait for every member of the Tour peloton, especially during the race’s nervy opening few days, was the foundation of his successful title defense. While almost every one of his major rivals was skittled out of contention even before the four-stage Grand Départ in Brittany had been completed, the 22-year-old Slovenian managed, through a crucial combination of skill and luck, to sail through those stormy waters.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 22, 2021-Ausgabe von CYCLING WEEKLY.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 22, 2021-Ausgabe von CYCLING WEEKLY.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Claud Butler Criterium
A classic British brand ridden by beginners and Olympians alike
Dr Hutch
At what point does a bold show of strength become brazen showboating? The Doc ponders the etiquette of the long solo break
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT...CBD
From reducing pain to promoting relaxation and sleep, myriad are the claims made for cannabidiol but do they stack up? Rob Kemp finds out
Van Rysel D900
Andy Turner discovers whether Decathlon's high-spec, low-price smart trainer can compete with the likes of Wahoo, Tacx and Elite
What prep does my bike need for summer?
Pro bike mechanic Glen Whittington shares his tips for the successful de-hibernation of your bike
2024 GIRO D'ITALIA
Attention turns to Italy and 21 days of Grand Tour action
Pogačar's dominance at the Giro could be dull
While I may have been a little young to understand the full romance of the Tour de France during the Armstrong era, I never understood the sentiment that it was boring just because of Lance's dominance.
Team GB's Paris Olympics track bike launched
BC reveals the bike that it hopes will power riders to medals in Paris this summer
Romandie victory marks Ineos return to stage race success
Carlos Rodríguez wins British team's first WorldTour stage race since 2022, writes Adam Becket
Is pro racing getting more dangerous?
There are many factors that contribute to the perceived greater risks. One that does not get any attention is the greater importance of UCI points and the need to constantly collect them to avoid relegation.