Ronchamp (France) (AFP)

Tadej Pogacar, new yellow jersey for the Tour de France on the eve of his arrival in Paris, "never imagined" being able to dethrone Primoz Roglic on the time trial arriving at the Planche des Belles Filles, which he has won on Saturday at the same time as the Great Loop, barring an accident.

Q: Did you think you could reverse the ranking?

A: It's amazing.

I never imagined it.

This morning, I was only happy to be second.

But I had a great day and I find myself in yellow now.

I'm just super happy.

I never thought of the jersey because it's the biggest race in the world.

But the team trusted me, supported me and knew we could do it.

We are a good group, they believed in me and I in them.

Q: With what state of mind did you start this time?

A: I always approach time trials being quite nervous.

Because I like this discipline, to fight against myself.

I didn't think I would take the yellow jersey because Primoz is super strong but the result is there.

I went all out from start to finish.

I knew the course really well, I knew where to restart, where to recover.

Q: Were you confident after beating Roglic in the specialty Slovenian championship?

A: It was a different time trial but it was good to have that benchmark, although it wasn't ideal.

I told myself that if I was having a good day, I would end up in the same waters as Roglic.

But in the end, I had a good day and he less.

Q: You seemed to be declining in the Col de la Loze, during the 17th stage on Wednesday, where did you find the extra energy?

My form was stable throughout the Tour.

In the Loze, two guys (Colombian Miguel Angel Lopez and Roglic, note) were stronger than me.

I gave the maximum, it was the queen stage, very hard from start to finish.

I suffered at the end because of the high altitude and also the very steep slopes.

But I stayed calm after that because I was still second and confident that I would finish there in Paris.

Q: What did Roglic tell you on Thursday?

He told me the race was over and we just had to survive the clock.

In the end, I had a good day and he less.

I don't know what happened.

I was thinking of second place from the Col de la Loze and just wanted to consolidate it.

Roglic was the best rider on the Tour with a very good team.

They did a fantastic job.

I have enormous respect for him, he is a friend.

I feel sorry for him.

He loses the yellow jersey after the last real stage, it's really hard.

I imagine how he feels.

But it's the race, we're all trying to win.

Q: Is your best asset your recovery skills because, like in the Vuelta, you finished strong in the last week?

A: No doubt.

It's now been two Grand laps that I arrive in the third week and that I feel good every time.

Some days a little less, but never so bad.

My genetic recovery abilities are truly remarkable.

I guess I have to thank my parents.

Q: What did you tell them?

A: I haven't been able to speak with my parents yet because the reception at the Planche des Belles Filles was really bad.

I was able to have my girlfriend only two minutes on the phone before losing the network.

I just want to thank my parents because they are the best in the world.

Q: What are your earliest memories of the Tour?

A: I started watching the Tour around 2009 or 2010. At the time, I didn't understand everything.

I vibrated in front of Contador and Schleck.

It was fantastic to see.

Go to training then land in front of the TV.

Now I'm here and so happy to be in yellow.

Q: Your life is going to be turned upside down now ...

Things will change but I want to stay the same, train and run with the same mindset.

We have to continue the good work of the team, remain humble and continue to give the best of ourselves in the next races.

I'm just a kid from Slovenia with two sisters and a brother.

I like to have fun, appreciate life in its little things.

Interview at a press conference

© 2020 AFP