Pogacar: "The covid is not a rival, but it can destroy everything"

the slovenian Tadej Pogacarwho lost his fellow Norwegian Vegard Stake Laengenpositive for covid, ensured that the pandemic was “not a rival” but it threatened to “spoil everyone” in the Tour de France.

“The covid is starting to worry. Unfortunately, the pandemic is there and we are not saved from it. We can’t risk getting sick, we have to take it seriously,” said the UAE cyclist, yellow jersey and chasing his third in a row. consecutive success in Paris.

Pogacar pointed out that “every day there are thousands of fans having fun in the canals” and that, despite all the precautions they take, it poses a risk of infection.

“Covid is not a real rival, but it can destroy everything,” said the commander -in -chief, adding that his real opponents are the Jumbo and Ineos runners.

The loss of Laengen leaves the Slovenian a good partner to face the flat stages and adds to the fact that Swiss Marc Hirchi, who replaced Italian Matteno Trentin, is positive for covid, before the Tour begins , is having difficulty after having suffered a fall.

In the UAE team test is conducted every two days and they have a machine that determines the level of contagion of each runner, which determines whether they can continue racing or not.

Laengen tested negative on the test done this Friday, as did other cyclists, but at night he started to feel a sore throat and after taking another test he was positive.

The heat is not good

Despite this defeat, Pogacar is confident of “defending the yellow jersey in Paris with the six men.”

The Slovenian, third in the day’s stage after winning the previous two, ensured he entered the race for victory when he saw his position well on the final slope, but acknowledged Belgian Wout van Aert was stronger.

“We had a chance but it wasn’t the goal,” the UAE cyclist said.

Pogacar acknowledged that the heat was starting to be a factor on the Tour and that it wasn’t good for him. “When it rains I feel lighter, in the heat I don’t feel good. But the conditions are the same for everyone.”