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Tadej Pogacar 'ready to attack the mountains' as he pinpoints two crucial stages in massive second week for Tour de France GC battle
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Published 15/07/2025 at 17:20 GMT+1
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Reigning Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar believes the coming week could be "decisive" in the battle for this year's yellow jersey. The Slovenian was disappointed to lose team-mate Joao Almeida to a broken rib, but said that he was ultimately pleased with his team's performance thus far. Pogacar also highlighted two crucial stages coming up as he prepares to "attack the mountains."
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Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates XRG) said he was targeting the stage at Hautacam and the time trial in Peyragudes as potentially being "decisive" in this year’s Tour de France.
The Slovenian remains the odds-on favourite to capture this year’s title, despite trailing current leader Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) by 29 seconds after 10 stages.
Importantly, Pogacar has the advantage over his two likeliest rivals for yellow; Remco Evenepoel of Soudal Quick-Step trails him by 1'00", while two-time former champion Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) sits 1'17" behind.
Pogacar suffered a blow to his chances when he lost team-mate Joao Almeida, who had to withdraw with a broken rib and other injuries. Pavel Sivakov was also unwell on Stage 10, but Pogacar was unable to withstand attacks from Visma riders.
Speaking at a press conference during a rest day on Tuesday, the 26-year-old three-time Tour winner reflected on a tough ride.
"When we arrived to yesterday's stage I was so happy because the first nine days were really hectic and nervous, and we expected this, so I'm just happy that we survived that," Pogacar said.
"Joao (Almeida) didn't, but here we are now, and now it's coming to our terrain, to climbing terrain, so it will be less stressful, so I think we can in general say it was a really good week except that we lost Joao.
"That was the only big blow, but otherwise we sit comfortably in GC, and we are ready to attack the mountains.
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"We lost Joao, he showed true warrior spirit in the last two days that he was riding. But I cannot imagine riding with a broken rib and other injuries.
"I am really sad that he had to leave because we had a really nice group and really good atmosphere, and he was looking forward so much for the next two weeks, to defend the yellow jersey which we lost yesterday, but it is not too much of a big deal because we still sit quite close to it."
Looking ahead, Pogacar put a little pressure on Healy, suggesting he may come under attack, as well as doing the same to the riders behind him.
"The main GC rivals are still a little bit behind, they will have to attack, and we will see if Ben can hold onto the yellow jersey for a couple of stages, but I think that he has spent a lot of time in the breakaway already, so I hope he feels tired and that we can fight again for a day in yellow in the next coming stages," he continued.
"Maybe not tomorrow, but Hautacam and then the time trial and Superbagneres. It's going to be three really nice climbing days."
Pogacar added that with the stages lined up in the next week, he felt that it could be make-or-break for the destination of the Tour de France title for this year.
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He said: "I expect it's going to be a really fast week in terms of how fast it will end, because we extended the first week for one day and now the second week is one day shorter, and also one time trial in the middle, so everything will go super quick and I think this week can be already quite decisive.
"Normally the second week is always reserved a bit for semi-mountains and breakaways and maybe one big mountain day, but this year, this week is almost as hard as the final week, so we can already see some big gaps in the GC in the upcoming days.
"But I feel it's going to be an interesting week. I am looking forward to Hautacam and especially the time trial in Peyragudes. These two stages I am really looking forward to, and then it is almost already the third week."
Pogacar remains confident in his team despite the setbacks with illness and fitness for his stable-mates, but reaffirmed that he felt that longer, more demanding and hillier stages could sort out the contenders.
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He said: "The level is so high in this Tour. Nine stages were short, explosive, nervous, stressful... all the teams showed they can ride the front, they can fight, yesterday the Stage 10 was the first hard day.
"It was super hard to control, and we could see that our team was doing super good even though we lost Joao, and Pavel is a little bit suffering from illness.
"But we can see yesterday already who is where a little bit in the times, but I think it's not really a true indicator of other GC contenders and individuals.
"I think the main goal for everyone will be this week with the big mountains, the uphill time trial, so I think we can assess more in the upcoming days, but I think the field is quite packed, and it is going to be a huge fight for the podium and for the yellow."
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