Jean-Baptiste Sarrazin with Martin Lange / Photo credit: MEHDI FEDOUACH / POOL / AFP
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9:35 p.m., July 03, 2023
The 2023 edition of the Tour de France promises to be hotly contested with a duel between the Slovenian Tadej Pogačar and the Dane Jonas Vingegaard, winner last year. An exciting confrontation for former French rider Bernard Hinault who already has his favorite in mind.
The Tour de France 2023 is launched with a duel which already keeps all its promises, that between the Slovenian Tadej Pogačar and the Dane Jonas Vingegaard. From the second stage, between Vitoria-Gasteiz and San Sebastian (in Spain), the two cyclists went blow for blow, suggesting a fierce fight between the two team leaders. Interviewed on the show Europe 1 Sport (live every evening from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Europe 1), Bernard Hinault delivered, exclusively, his prognosis at the microphone of Martin Lange: “We are going to put Pogačar”, got wet the former five-time winner of the large loop.
“Only small snag”…
Bernard Hinault, however, has some reservations about his favorite: “The only small problem is that we do not know his abilities because he has not raced for two and a half months”, he said. so nuanced. The Slovenian is gradually recovering from his heavy fall in Liège-Bastogne-Liège two months ago resulting in multiple wrist fractures. For the five-time winner of the Tour de France, the Pyrenees will draw the first indications of form between the two riders. “When we have passed the Pyrenees, I think we will have an idea of those who are still capable of winning. I think there will not be many left”, slice Bernard Hinault.
The fight between Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard should be repeated at each stage since each finish line is synonymous with bonus points, making it possible to grab very precious seconds for the finish on the Champs-Elysées. “If there are bonuses from time to time to get, and I have the opportunity, I will go,” promised Tadej Pogačar after the arrival of the second stage in San Sebastian. But one thing is certain for “the Badger”, the Tour is promised to one of the two riders: “There is no one who can play with it”, ended up concluding the former French rider.