Tadej Pogacar ‘is the man, he will win this Tour de France’ – Jens Voigt writes off Jonas Vingegaard chances

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) “is the man” and “will win” the 2023 Tour de France, according to Eurosport expert Jens Voigt.

The Slovenian is on a revenge mission after seeing Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) end his two-year streak in the yellow jersey last year.

After a brilliant spring yielded wins at Paris-Nice, the Tour of Flanders and Amstel Gold, Pogacar looked to be the clear favourite heading into this summer’s Tour.

But that uncertainty has not dissuaded two-time Tour stage winner Voigt, who claims “not even 50 domestiques” could help Vingegaard stop Pogacar.

“In my eyes it is completely clear. Tadej Pogacar is the man, he will win this Tour de France,” began Voigt.

“He is still upset and mad and angry and disappointed about last year’s defeat. For someone like Tadej Pogacar, being second in the Tour de France after winning it twice is a defeat. He is back with a vengeance.

“And the crash, as terrible as it was in the moment at Liege-Bastogne-Liege, forced him to really take a break. So every cell of his body is completely regenerated. He will be as fresh as anything, hungry, he is the man to beat.”

Voigt also highlighted the importance of his new team-mate Adam Yates, who joined from Ineos Grenadiers for 2023 and will be tasked with guiding Pogacar through the mountains.

“He’s got a really serious and reliable climber with him until the last kilometre of the last climb,” said Voigt.

“So Pogacar’s team is better and stronger than previous years. He’s not under-raced, he is just ready to go.”

Vingegaard arrives at the Tour in supreme form after cruising to victory at the Criterium de Dauphine after two stage wins and two seconds places.

However, he was outclassed the last time he went head-to-head with Pogacar at Paris-Nice, albeit in March when he was not in peak shape.

“What a great year he’s had. He’s been looking strong in a lot of races leading into this Tour de France,” said Voigt.

“Yet man against man, I believe Pogacar is the stronger rider. A large advantage is this incredible strength of Jumbo-Visma – they are by far the strongest team at this Tour de France.

“But on a mountain, if you cannot follow the captain or the yellow jersey or the attack, not even 50 domestiques can help you. If you cannot follow Tadej Pogacar, you are second. And I believe that’s what we are going to see.”

The Tour begins in Bilbao, Spain on Saturday.

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