Tadej Pogačar is impressed by the route of the 2022 Tour de France, even if he views it as a complex affair with numerous potential booby traps.
The race begins with a 13km time trial and two windy but flat stages in Denmark, before transitioning south to undertake cobbles, more crosswinds, punchy ascents and mythical Alpine climbs.
Pogačar won his second successive Tour this summer after dominating the opening week, and it is likely that the winner of the 2022 edition will have to not just survive a seriously difficult first nine stages but be in a commanding position if they want to win the yellow jersey.
Week two and week three pack in six mountain stages before culminating with a 40km time trial, a distance that Pogačar could put a good amount of time into his rivals.
The Slovenian, who only turned 23 just over three weeks ago, told the media in Paris after the route's unveiling: "It's pretty great. It's pretty interesting from stage one to the last stage, with sprint stages, crosswinds, cobblestones, small climbs, steep climbs, long climbs, everything. It's really a complete Tour.
"I will do some recon because it will be necessary. I am pretty excited. The windy stages are always tricky and everybody is nervous for those stages. It will be interesting to see what happens.
"When you have a 20km-long bridge [in Denmark], it's rare that nothing happens. It will be scary.
"I think the time trials are good news, if I feel good."
Fifty-three time trialling kilometres will favour Pogačar and his fellow Slovenian Primož Roglič, but the UAE-Team Emirates man refused to be drawn on who will be the favourites just yet.
"There are lots," he said. "We will talk about it when we start. It's a really long way to July.
"We need to start the season first and then we talk about the favourites. It's a bit more pressure than if you didn't win before."
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
-
-
Cycling keeps you fit but are you doing enough to stay healthy?
It’s possible to be very fit in one specific way, for example being fast on a bike, while being unhealthy in other ways
-
Dr Hutch: Motor-doping isn't rife, there's no way cyclists would use it discreetly enough
Some fans think that motor-doping is rife, but Cycling Weekly's columnist Dr Hutch is having none of it
-
In memoriam: Tadej Pogačar's white jersey domination
After 81 days in the young rider's jersey at Grand Tours, the Slovenian has grown up
-
‘I really like city street racing’ - Tadej Pogačar on the ‘enjoyable’ World Championships road race course
Slovenian two-time Tour de France winner took bronze behind rainbow jersey winner Mathieu van der Poel
-
'All of a sudden I was on the ground and my shoe was broken' - Mathieu van der Poel on World Championships win
Dutchman slipped out on a bend in closing stages and said that adrenaline kept him going on the way to the road world title
-
Glasgow World Championships 2023: Eight riders to watch in the elite men's road race
Remco Evenepoel gets set to defend the title he won in Wollongong, Australia last year
-
Adam Yates says ‘less pressure’ key to Tour de France third
UAE Team Emirates co-leader says he still thinks Tadej Pogačar is the best rider in the world despite defeat by Jonas Vingegaard
-
'I just cracked myself': Tadej Pogačar reflects on second consecutive Tour de France defeat
UAE Team Emirates rider delighted to feel good at the end of third week, and take second stage win, despite setbacks
-
'Go Jonas!' - A day at the Tour de France with Jonas Vingegaard's parents
Cycling Weekly joins Jonas Vingegaard's parents on the roadside in the Pyrenees to watch their son in action on stage five of the French Grand Tour
-
Tadej Pogačar: ‘Today was one of the worst days of my life on the bike’
UAE Team Emirates leader loses more than five minutes on Tour de France queen stage
