Pogacar recalls Le Markstein memories ahead of crucial Tour mountain test

Tadej Pogačar will draw on positive memories of Le Markstein as he faces one of the key mountain tests of this year’s Tour de France, with UAE Team Emirates-XRG expecting the general classification battle to intensify.

The 155.3-kilometre stage from Mulhouse to Le Markstein contains 3,800 metres of elevation gain and four categorised climbs, including the debuting Col du Haag with its summit just 5.9km from the finish.

Pogačar claimed the last Tour stage win that finished in Le Markstein back in 2023. It was the penultimate stage of the race, where Pogačar outsprinted Felix Gall, Jonas Vingegaard and Simon Yates to claim victory. 

This came just three days after his infamous 'I’m gone. I’m dead' moment on the Col de la Loze, where Vingegaard all but sealed his second Tour title. 

Before Saturday’s first major mountain test in the Vosges, Pogačar recalled another connection, involving his partner Urška Žigart and the Tour de France Femmes.

“The first memory was when I DNF'd in [Classica] San Sebastian [in 2022] and went early to the bus to see Urška [Žigart] climb top 10 in the first Tour de France Femmes in the modern era,” Pogačar told the media ahead of stage 14. 

“So yeah, this is the first memory. And then the second, when I win in 2023 after a tough Tour. I win the stage there and, yeah, it was a really good finish of the bad Tour.”

Pogačar said there was little need for a major team meeting before the stage, with UAE Team Emirates-XRG already clear on their objectives, an ominous sign of what could be to come. 

“Not much. It was a bit chaotic in the bus today, but good vibes, motivation is high, and I think everybody knows what to do today,” Pogačar said.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG manager Mauro Gianetti expects the stage to be a crucial one in the battle for the GC, as it marks the start of a very difficult run-in to Paris with plenty of mountain tests.

“It’s the first real mountain stage after Tourmalet. So that means a lot,” Gianetti told TNT Sports. “Everyone, they want to test their legs, to see themselves, how they are, and how they are compared to the other ones.”

While Pogačar remains the favourite for stage victory, Gianetti insisted that the priority is the defence of the yellow jersey. He currently leads Vingegaard by 3:36 ahead of a crucial stage in the Vosges.

“The contenders, there are so many this year and are so strong, so we expect a lot of fight,” he said. “And of course, you know, we need to be really, really concentrated and careful, because it’s still long. We have the responsibility of the yellow jersey, so we really need to work a lot.”

Away from the Tour, Pogačar also strengthened speculation that he could return to the Vuelta a España this August, seven years after his last appearance at the Spanish Grand Tour.

Asked about comments from Prince Albert II of Monaco suggesting he expected Pogačar to start the race, the Slovenian replied: “Well, if the prince said, then it’s a high chance.”

Gianetti, however, said UAE would make the decision only after the Tour.

“We will decide after the Tour, you know? You cannot be in the middle of the Tour, so an important race, and thinking to the Vuelta. It’s already complicated to be concentrated in the Tour.”