Tadej Pogacar, a two-time winner of the Tour de France, believes that his recent wrist injury came at an opportune moment for his pursuit of a third victory in the 2023 Tour.
During the Liege-Bastogne-Liege race in April, the 24-year-old Slovenian cyclist, who represents UAE Team Emirates, sustained a fractured wrist. Surprisingly, Pogacar views the timing of the accident as advantageous, as it provided him with much-needed rest before his campaign for another Tour triumph.
“I’ve already resumed training on the road a few weeks ago,” Pogacar revealed in an interview with the UAE’s National newspaper. “While I didn’t desire the injury, you could say it occurred at the perfect time. I was originally planning to take a four-week break in preparation for the Tour, and this setback forced me to rest even more.”
Prior to the crash in Belgium, Pogacar had already secured victories in the Tour of Flanders, Amstel Gold Race, and La Fleche Wallonne. Reflecting on his preparation, he acknowledged the unconventional nature due to his wrist injury but expressed overall satisfaction with his progress.
As the reigning champion of the Tour de France in 2020 and 2021, Pogacar’s hopes of clinching a third consecutive title were thwarted by Danish cyclist Jonas Vingegaard last year. Nevertheless, Pogacar remains optimistic about his chances this year.
“I’m genuinely excited about the upcoming Tour. We have an excellent team, and our coordination is exceptional. Naturally, we’ll face tough competition, and it won’t be an easy endeavor, but we’re determined to give it our all,” Pogacar affirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Tour de France
Q: When did Tadej Pogacar sustain his wrist injury?
A: Tadej Pogacar sustained his wrist injury during the Liege-Bastogne-Liege race in April.
Q: How did Tadej Pogacar view the timing of his injury?
A: Tadej Pogacar saw the timing of his injury as advantageous, considering it provided him with much-needed rest before his bid for a third Tour de France victory.
Q: What was Pogacar’s original plan for preparation before the Tour?
A: Pogacar originally planned a four-week break in preparation for the Tour de France.
Q: What other races had Pogacar won before his injury?
A: Before his crash, Pogacar had already emerged victorious in the Tour of Flanders, Amstel Gold Race, and La Fleche Wallonne.
Q: Did Pogacar express confidence in his chances for this year’s Tour de France?
A: Yes, Pogacar expressed excitement and confidence about his chances this year, mentioning a great team, strong competitors, and a determined effort to succeed.
More about Tour de France
- Tadej Pogacar’s profile on the official Tour de France website
- UAE Team Emirates official website
- Liege-Bastogne-Liege race official website
- Tour de France official website
- The National newspaper interview with Tadej Pogacar
- Tour of Flanders official website
- Amstel Gold Race official website
- La Fleche Wallonne official website
5 comments
Pogacar breaks wrist, but he’s like “cool timing, bro!” says he needed a break. unconventional prep, but he’s still excited. let’s see him crush it!
pogacar, injured wrist but calls it “perfct time” for rest b4 tour. he’s got a gr8 chance to win again. go tadej!
tadej pogacar, 2-time winner of tour de france, thinks injury came at perfect time for his 3rd victory. hope he recovers soon!
Pogacar injry forces rest b4 Tour de France bid. 2x winner, wants 3rd win. strong comp, but he got gr8 team. good luck, dude!
Pogacar hurts wrist, but he’s all like “perfect timing” for rest. ready to dominate Tour de France again. fierce competition, but he’ll give it his all.