You won the Tour of Italy by a large margin and your opponents have been affected this season. Do you think you are the big favorite for the final victory for this Tour de France?
“My preparation since the Giro has gone well so I feel in good shape and I’m happy to be here. But I’m not the only one to watch and the only one in good shape. I think Jonas (Vingegaard) and the others will be ready. »
How have you cut since the Giro?
“I spent a lot of time with Urska (Zigart, his partner). I trained a lot. And unfortunately, my grandfather passed away. I had to return to Slovenia to be close to my family. »
“The preparation went well”
Did everything go well during your preparation?
“Yes even if I had Covid about ten days ago. There was a question mark with this illness but I recovered well and didn’t have too many problems. In the end, the preparation went well. »
You said that Jonas Vingegaard will be ready for this Tour de France. You remain on two defeats against him on the Great Loop. What do you have to do to beat him?
“I think our relationship is exceptional. We generally see each other once a year in July. I like this rivalry. I’m delighted that he’s at the start and I like taking on challenges. It is true that I have made mistakes over the last two years. We will have to manage our mental well and we will see the result in three weeks. »
What can you tell us about your team that seems exceptional?
“I have a great team, one of the best we have ever seen in the Tour de France. We are very strong in the mountains but also in the plains and the technical stages. I am very honored to run with such runners. »
