'I think I can manage it' - Tadej Pogacar confident he can maintain supreme shape until Tour de France

Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) has dismissed concerns about peaking too early before the Tour de France as he leads the 2025 Critérium du Dauphiné with a commanding 1:01 advantage over key rival Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike). The world champion has been imperious on the previous two mountain stages at the Dauphiné, illustrating that he is firmly the man to beat in July. When asked by reporters at the start of stage 8 about whether he was concerned that he could be peaking too early, Pogačar remained very confident. "No. I mean, normally I'm in top shape super early in the season, like in February, January. I always have good numbers, good feelings," Pogačar said.

"I always try to keep the good shape throughout the year, with good planning and everything, I think I can manage it. Then I think after today's race I can rest a bit, and recover after this hard week and be ready for the Tour."

Pogačar seems to be able to improve year-on-year, which is a remarkable feat considering what he is already achieving in the sport, and his 2025 campaign will already be remembered as one of the best yet, winning races such as the Tour of Flanders and Liège-Bastogne-Liège in the rainbow jersey. The world champion described his season in the rainbow jersey as beyond imagination, suggesting that 2025 could be the best season of his career so far if things continue to go to plan.

"To have this kind of year with the rainbow jersey, you can never imagine, and it has been a great, great year for me, and I know I say it every year, but the best season so far."

When questioned about Vingegaard's current form and potential to improve towards the major showdown at the Tour de France in July, Pogačar remained very certain that his key rival will be at his very best come July, and that he needs to be ready for the fight with Vingegaard.

"I think he looks in pretty decent shape. I don't know exactly how much he can improve, but for sure, he's going to be at his best level for the Tour. I think he also knows this, so we will see."

At 26 years of age, Pogačar suggested that he is heading in the right direction towards the peak of his powers, but acknowledged that there's always room for incremental improvements. "I mean, you always need to improve with some experiences. The older you get, the more experience you have. You know the roots more, you know the races," he explained.

"I can also improve, maybe a bit mentally and physically, but I think the margins are not so much anymore. I'm getting older now, and I think I'm at more or less the peak of my career."