Fresh from another commanding display at the Tour de Suisse, Tadej Pogačar believes he is heading into the Tour de France in even better condition than a year ago. The Slovenian superstar wrapped up his final major preparation race with overall victory and revealed that performance testing has confirmed the progress he has made ahead of cycling’s biggest event.
Pogačar dominated the Tour de Suisse in familiar fashion, winning multiple stages and securing the general classification with apparent ease. The UAE Team Emirates-XRG leader used the race as his last competitive outing before the Tour de France and came away encouraged by both his results and the data collected during recent fitness assessments.
“I’d say I’m stronger,” Pogačar admitted when comparing his current form to previous seasons. According to the reigning world champion, laboratory and training tests have shown improvements in several key performance indicators, reinforcing his confidence that he is arriving at the Tour in peak condition.
The 27-year-old has spent much of the season demonstrating the same dominance that has made him the benchmark in professional cycling. His latest triumph in Switzerland only strengthened the belief that he will start the Tour de France as the man to beat when the race begins on July 4.
With his racing programme now complete, Pogačar will return home for a short period of recovery and final preparation. He plans to spend time with his partner, Urška Žigart, before shifting his full focus to the Grand Départ.
Despite his confidence, Pogačar remains cautious about what lies ahead. The Tour de France presents a unique challenge, with rivals eager to dethrone him over three demanding weeks. Nevertheless, the signs from Tour de Suisse and his latest test results suggest he is entering the race in exceptional shape.
As the countdown to July 4 continues, Pogačar appears relaxed, refreshed and, perhaps most importantly for his competitors, stronger than ever.
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