This article initially appeared on Velo_News
Tadej Pogacar received a style of the cobblestones Monday for what lies forward in this summer’s Tour de France, but his UAE Emirates activity director is not also content about it.
Aart Vierhouten, a activity director at UAE Emirates who accompanied Pogacar in Monday’s recon, strongly criticized the inclusion of one individual sector of cobbles that will be featured in stage 5 at the 2022 Tour.
“The 2nd sector operates downhill. It’s insane,” Vierhouten advised Sporza of a 1,600m extend from Eswars to Paillencourt. “I would never have involved that in the course if I was an organizer.”
Also read through: Tadej Pogacar previews the Tour de France cobbles
Vierhouten accompanied Pogacar on Monday as he examined the cobbled sections, and the Dutch previous pro went so much as to describe the sector as “life-threatening,” and that its inclusion operates contrary to the sport’s current push for protection.
“It is insanity. Diving down on cobblestones at 60 to 65kph, and that in the busy pace of the Tour. Basically, this cobbled part does not belong in any competition,” he continued. “The cobblestone sector descends. There are no drop-back again options to the left and correct of the highway. This is at odds with the safety that has been so emphasised these days. I really don’t understand why this sector is on the route. You are only heading to glimpse for potential risks with it.”
The sector was also featured when the Tour previous raced on the cobblestones of northern France in 2018.
Individuals opinions will only heighten tension within the peloton about the return of the feared cobblestones for the 2022 Tour de France.
Some riders, sport administrators and staff professionals feel the cobblestones do not belong in a race like the Tour, stating that lots of of the Tour-particular riders do not have the knowledge or even the entire body kind to securely deal with the jarring punishment of the rough French pave.
Many others counter that cobblestones are component of racing, and each and every rider should be equipped to handle them.
Reporters on the floor asked Pogacar what he believed about the inclusion of the cobbles into the 2022 route, who hesitated briefly ahead of answering.
“They can do no matter what they want and we will always race it,” Pogacar instructed Sporza. “Maybe it’s a bit hectic, in particular in the Tour, but what we can do?”
The two-time Tour winner, however, said he is relishing a possibility to race on the famed cobbles irrespective of some warning from his activity director.
“I am searching forward to this stage, it can go terribly wrong or it can go Okay. For sure you do not win the race here on the cobbles, but you can get rid of it,” he explained. “It’s significant to test the course, to get a emotion of the cobbles, and it offers you peace of intellect, and go additional calm into the Tour for the 1st 7 days.”
Tadej Pogacar states he will race Paris-Roubaix ‘one day’
Pogacar stated his Monday preview of the 11 sectors of cobbles to be highlighted in stage 5 at the Tour de France was value it.
“Now it’s a distinctive bicycle and devices, and it was not so poor. We did two and a 50 % several hours,” Pogacar stated. “It gives me inspiration and self-assurance from what we did at Flanders. I actually like this race. Sunday was a single of the very best times on the bicycle, and it gives me a strengthen of self-confidence for the Tour and the next many years of my career.”
And what about racing Paris-Roubaix?
Pogacar stated not this year.
“One working day I will do it, but not so before long. Subsequent calendar year, possibly not,” he said. “I’ve under no circumstances performed it ahead of, so I never know. The toughest [monument] to gain for me will be Roubaix and San Remo.”
Click on this link to see the Sporza video clip.
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