What’s next for the tour? “Tadej Pogacar is more focused on the World Cup than the Olympics”

Tim Wellens was a bit ill last week, but now the Belgian pawn in the team around Tadej Pogacar is in better shape.

For a leader and champion like Pogacar, Wellens is happy to dig a little deeper. “I think we are currently seeing the best Tadej at work,” he says in Vive le Vélo with Maarten Vangramberen.

“He has never been as good as he is now. Tadej executes the plans almost perfectly and he is setting record values: before the Tour and now also in the Tour.”

“Tadej also constantly talks about his values,” laughs Willens. “It’s always about wattage.”

“What is electrical power? That’s not my job to reveal,” our fellow citizen winks.

“We all look at Taj with great admiration,” Tim Wellens continues. “But that doesn’t happen automatically.”

“At the end of the year, he’s the rider who’s put the most hours on his bike. He works hard for that.”

Pogacar has also made some changes to his training. “It’s more different than last year,” says Wellens.

“After training, he could easily crawl on the rollers for another half hour. And during his time trial on the bike, he wore a raincoat to simulate the heat. He probably didn’t do that last year.”

Tim Wellens and his UAE teammates completely ignore Tadej Pogacar. The yellow jersey is also very grateful to them for that.

“Tadej is a very friendly person,” Wellens testifies in Vive le Vélo. “When I got sick, he was the first one to ask me how I was. And when I had a hard time during the stages, he asked me if I was going to finish in time. He is very grateful.”

Pogacar does it all with a smile. “That’s really him,” Willens confirms. “Tadej is very happy in life. He knows that there’s more to life than just cycling.”

“We wanted to go karting with some riders before the Giro. I suggested doing it after the Tour of Italy. Just imagine something happening on a karting track.”

“But Pogacar wanted to go karting for the Giro. Because there is more to life than just cycling.”

Fact: Pogacar didn’t win, he came in second. “Michael Matthews has more experience,” Wellens laughs.

The Olympic Games follow the Tour de France.

“Tadeg is not working on it right away,” Tim Wellens has an impression. “With the world championship in Zurich, he is more focused on it.”

The opposition has warned. The road race is scheduled to take place in Zurich on Sunday, September 29.