Racing against Vingegaard is spectacular, says Pogacar as Tour approaches

Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar is eagerly anticipating the continuation of his "spectacular" rivalry with Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard as they prepare to face off as the primary contenders in the Tour de France. The prestigious cycling race is set to commence on Saturday in Barcelona.

"The competition between me and Jonas for the last few years was spectacular," Pogacar stated during a press conference on Thursday. "I think it will continue for a few more years, I hope. We push each other to new heights every year. So we will see how far we go this year."

Both Pogacar and Vingegaard are recognized as the finest Grand Tour riders of their generation and among the sport's all-time greats. Pogacar is vying for his fifth Tour de France title, a record-equalling achievement, while Vingegaard aims for his third victory after triumphs in 2022 and 2023.

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The competition between me and Jonas for the last few years was spectacular. I think it will continue for a few more years, I hope. We push each other to new heights every year. So we will see how far we go this year.

Despite the intense focus on his rivalry with Vingegaard, Pogacar does not consider the Dane his sole competitor. "I do not think that he is the only one who can come close. I think there are quite a few guys here who can aim for the victory," he said, mentioning riders like Belgium's Remco Evenepoel and Germany's Florian Lipowitz as potential podium contenders.

Pogacar, the reigning champion, enters the race as the favorite following a dominant start to his season. His victories this year include the Milan-San Remo, a third Tour of Flanders, a fourth Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Strade Bianche, the Tour de Romandie, and the Tour de Suisse. He has modified his preparation, focusing on fewer racing days but significant training kilometers, and feels ready for the challenge. Pogacar will be supported by a strong UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad, which he believes is comparable to previous years' teams.

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I do not think that he is the only one who can come close. I think there are quite a few guys here who can aim for the victory.