In years gone by, peaking for the Tour de France, and specifically the crucial third week, has been vital for pursuing the yellow jersey, but new race leader and stage 3 winner Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) has described that expectation, of growing into the race, as very much something of the past.
Pogačar, despite the ease with which he dominated the sprint near Les Angles on Monday, was asked whether he was looking to improve even further as the race goes on and reaches the high mountains, but the World Champion believes anyone looking to truly challenge the GC should already be firing on all cylinders.
"I think maybe this was in the past like 20 years ago that they were aiming for the shape to grow to the last week," said Pogačar in his post-stage press conference.
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"But I think now these days you need to come with the best shape possible in the start of the Tour and go with it, try to recover as much as possible every day, eat food like a robot, and just go with the flow.
"What you bring here is what you deal with. You always have good days and bad days, but I [don't] think you can grow shape; I doubt for at least the guys who go for GC – you need to come prepared in the best shape possible at the start."
Chasing records alongside lieutenant Del Toro
Pogačar started the 2026 edition with third and second-place finishes, but he still looked every bit the dominant force he has been in the past two Tours, setting the fastest climbing times in the opening day team time trial, and then gifting the second stage to teammate Isaac del Toro with plenty left to spare.
On Monday, he gave everyone a brief look into where his power levels are at, launching from the wheel of Del Toro on the final 1.7-kilometre climb and putting a gap into all of his rivals in the sprint, notably Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), who couldn't match his long surge.
With victory, Pogačar moved to fifth all-time for stage wins at the Tour de France, level with former great sprinter André Darrigade on 22. This puts him just 13 wins away from equalling the record set by Mark Cavendish two years ago, ahead of Eddy Merckx, with the Slovenian expected to win several more over the next 18 stages.
"It's still quite far away; you never know. Maybe today was my last victory ever, so I prefer to stay in the moment and enjoy the victory," said Pogačar when asked if he was aiming for Cavendish's total.
"Every victory feels special, and if we can have more moments like yesterday also, [we should] be grateful, but so far my career is already – I mean, it's way beyond my wildest imagination, so I don't want to think about Mark's record of 35 stage wins and just go with the flow and see what we can do in future. If today is my last victory, I'm happy enough."
On happiness, the Pogačar who walked through the mixed zone with a beaming smile and humorous attitude was a complete flip from the version of the four-time Tour winner who seemed to grow sick with the race 12 months ago, as he battled with a knee injury while trying to defend his lead.
"Wait until the last week, then I get cranky," he laughed. "Last year I had my problems in the last week, and some days you cannot be happy. Any person, even outside of sport, some days can just come that you're more tired and a bit grumpy, so I think this is normal."
24 hours before he was celebrating his own victory, Pogačar exploded with even more joy at his teammate Del Toro's win atop Montjuïc hill in Barcelona. In the young Mexican star, who seems every bit his heir apparent at UAE, the Slovenian has a lieutenant who seems on another level to any of his rivals.
If Pogačar's enjoyment levels are to be kept at a high throughout his pursuit of a record-equalling fifth yellow jersey in Paris, Del Toro and the rest of the well-oiled UAE machine who brought back the breakaway in time for their leader to target the stage will prove vital.
"I think we have a similar mentality for the race, so we both know what we are capable of with each other. I can be really happy and proud of how he is riding now, and he's a big champion," said Pogačar.
"I can't complain, we have good chemistry and maybe it's because we are similar riders. Of course, we are different people, but we connect very well, and I'm super happy to have him on my side."
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