Pogacar stays in hunt for 4th Tour de France title despite rollercoaster race

The emergence of new contenders like Ireland’s Healy and France’s Kevin Vauquelin has added unexpected depth to this year’s race

- 

UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s Tadej Pogacar knows the road to a fourth Tour de France title won't be an easy cruise through the French countryside — and as the peloton took a well-earned pause on Tuesday, the defending champion made it clear that the race is far from decided.

While enjoying a rare moment of relaxation during the first rest day — indulging in a burger, a fresh haircut, and a quiet moment at a French cafe — Pogacar's mind remained firmly focused on the challenges looming in the Pyrenees.

“The second week may be short, but it’s going to be crucial," the 26-year-old Slovenian said.

After ten intense stages, Pogacar described the first week of the Tour as “explosive, nervous, stressful, and super-hard.”

He admitted that fatigue and soaring temperatures had taken a toll, and he didn’t hold back his frustration with the defensive tactics of Jonas Vingegaard’s Visma-Lease a Bike team.