Paris (AFP)

Tadej Pogacar, who confirmed his participation in the next Tour de France on Monday, put his sensational time trial at La Planche des Belles Filles into perspective, decisive for him to win the 2020 edition last summer.

"My performance may have been unexpected but it's nothing incredible," said the young Slovenian (22) during a media day by his UAE Emirates team, currently in training in Abu Dhabi.

Pogacar responded to the astonishment of his opponents from the Jumbo team (Primoz Roglic, Tom Dumoulin), underlined in a recent show on the Dutch television channel NOS: "They spoke hot, with undoubtedly also the disappointment to see victory escape them so close to Paris. You have to see things in their entirety. I was having a great day, which I prepared in the best possible way, we made a very quick change of bike, we left nothing to chance. "

"I don't have to express myself on the way Primoz (Roglic) and his team run and I don't have to say whether they underestimated me or not," added Pogacar, who became the youngest winner of the Tour de France in over a century.

Regarding the 2021 season, Pogacar replied that his only fear of missing out was: "Physical problems can happen to anyone, a stupid fall, an accident ... and we end up on the ground, on a bike like in life. But since there is no need to worry about what cannot be foreseen and avoided, I stay focused on my goals. "

- "I want to continue" -

The outgoing Tour winner is scheduled to take part in his first WorldTour race of the year at the UAE Tour, February 21-27.

Its 2021 program includes participation in the Strade Bianche and Tirreno-Adriatico in March, the Ardennes classics in April, the Critérium du Dauphiné in early June, the Tour de France and the Vuelta in summer.

"I realize that confirming is much more difficult than winning the first time. But I'm training my best for that," insisted the outgoing Tour winner, who also defended his UAE Emirates team.

“It has been said a lot that I won the Tour alone. But that's not true. We had some bad luck with (David) De La Cruz's downfall, (Fabio) Aru's and ( Davide) Formolo. If we had not had these problems, we would not even talk about it, "said Pogacar, who said he was" convinced "to have a team up to the next Tour:" We have nothing to envy of any other team. "

"The two time trials are not ideal for me, the first is placed very early and risks weighing on the race", he said, specifying that he improved his position on the time trial bike. watch and programmed specific workouts.

Asked about the changes that took place in his life following his victory, the young Slovenian, who kept the same apartment in Monaco, replied: "I was stopped in the street for photos, I have more obligations, media requests but I try not to stress and live as before. "

“It's a relief to have won the biggest race in the world,” he added.

"I am more relaxed but I want to continue. I am looking forward. I will fight to be on the top step from the first to the last race."

© 2021 AFP