The busy sports year 2024 is fast approaching and the Tour de France is on the way. Today, the famous cycling race will start in Italy for the first time in history, and for the first time it will not end in Paris. Jonas Vingegaard will attack for the third victory in a row, and Czech Jan Hirt will appear in action after three years. Cycling expert and former representative Lubor Tesař answers questions about the 111th year of “Old Ladies”.
Let’s dwell on what happened to the media a few weeks ago. Tour de France 2028 could start in the Czech Republic. Do you believe it is possible?
It’s certainly possible, but it’s been talked about for two years and it hasn’t moved anywhere from my point of view. They know what it takes. But we do not have the state guarantees that are necessary for this. The alpha and omega is that commercial partners cannot do this, the official application must be submitted by the state. In my opinion, the invested money would return many times over, but I understand that in the current economic situation, many people will look at it through their fingers.
There is talk of a specific year and the fact that the Czech Republic is attractive for the Tour itself as the first country outside of Western Europe to ride in.
It is at the level of some organizing groups with Tour management, but it has to be approved and guarantees are required from the highest state circles. From the government and regions or cities. It is doable, it would be a dream come true for a certain generation of cyclists.
If you dream, where would the stages in the Czech Republic lead? Usually the Tour is delayed for three days at the start abroad.
It would be the interest of the person who pays it. Prague can release the most money for this, at least the prologue and the start of some stage would be there. I would guess a large part of a stage in central Bohemia with the finish in Mladá Boleslav, as Škoda is one of the biggest partners of the Tour. Then it would be possible to move it to another region.
What will this year’s premier start of the Tour be like in Florence, Italy?
Heavy and Cruel (smile). The first stages are definitely not easy, it will be classic wilderness and the spectators have a lot to look forward to. The management and competitors aiming for the overall standings must have respect and a little fear from this. So that someone didn’t fall, didn’t have a puncture at the wrong moment and didn’t lose right at the start.
And as for the spectators on the spot? The Italians are proud of their Giro, how will they take the start of the French Tour on their territory?
I was surprised that there were few people in Italy at the team presentation on Thursday. I understand that they are proud of the Giro, but the Tour is just the Tour. I expect the roads to be littered in Italy as well. I believe the organizers have some idea, otherwise they wouldn’t have put it there. Thursday was a little embarrassing, but the Tour is a brand of quality. Especially this year, there is the best that can be. In the spring it looked different, luckily everyone somehow got together.
The end of the Tour will be different in that, because of the Olympics, he will not be going to Paris, the relaxed final stage with champagne will be missing. In addition, there will be a time trial on the last day. What role can it play?
It will be open, it depends what the differences will be between the first ones, but the time trial is always a certain charge. Let’s see who can save what and how they will pass the last stages before the time trial. If things don’t go as they should, you can grab a minute in the time trial and hope is gone.
The two stages before the final time trial are shorter, but very demanding. Tadej Pogačar called the program at the end of the Tour brutal.
The shorter stages are much wilder, you don’t have enough time to really get going, and it causes a problem for some. We will see a lot of tactical options, the competitors know the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents and will want to put the leader of the rival team under pressure.
The symbol of recent years is the fight between Vingegaard and Pogačar, since 2020 no one else has won the battle for the yellow jersey. The bookmakers see the Slovenian as the favorite, at a rate of around 1.5:1. Do you agree?
(smile) Such a course is usually for the favorite in tennis, for example, here it is a three-week stage race where a lot of things can happen. Under the given circumstances, Pogačar is the biggest favorite, but I definitely wouldn’t write off Vingegaard. Primož Roglič and Remco Evenepoel can also intervene, even if they too have been out of action. The only Pogačar managed the season at perhaps 120 percent, he won the Giro and at the end of it he did what he wanted. He certainly recovered well, on the other hand, he has a full spring season in his legs. It can “float” somewhere.
On the other hand, Vingegaard has not raced since the fall in the Basque Country in April, and it was not known until the last moment whether he would go to the Tour. The same for his partner from the Visma team Wout van Aert. In addition, he misses domestik Sepp Kuss. Perhaps for the first time, Pogačar has a stronger team, what do you think?
It’s a huge advantage, but it’s one thing to have a strong team on paper and another in the race. UAE from Pogačar works great, however, I repeat again, since spring. He doesn’t have to keep his form for three weeks. For a team, it is enough to meet for one day, the other teams will wipe you out, and the leader will be left alone in the fight.
After three years, the Czech racer Jan Hirt will be on the Tour, he should work for Evenepoel in the Soudal-QuickStep formation. How are you looking forward to his performances after finishing eighth at the Giro?
Honza will have clear goals, he will be the last to reach Evenepoel. Mikel Landa is also ready, but he is more like a number two option directly to the leader, if Evenepoel doesn’t work out. Honza will be a court domestic, he will pull in the hills. He has to get through the first stages, which don’t suit him so much, to get comfortable. He rode great at the Giro, riding for the result and raking in. We’ll see how he holds up on the Tour to be valid for Evenepoel.
For the first time since 2011, the Tour will be without Peter Sagan. He will even appear on Czech TV when commenting on Monday’s third stage.
Yes, they will be there with Jánek Valach (former Slovak cyclist and now national team coach, note ed.). It will be a revival and such a gift for viewers that they will see it on Czech TV.
You will be in the studio on other days, not with Sagan. You once criticized him for his sometimes reckless racing style and certain people in Slovakia rebelled against you. Did you get a reaction from Sagan as well?
(smile) It was constructed differently, some media took it out of context. There are certain terms used in cycling and when I say someone rides like a pig, it doesn’t mean they act like a pig. I am in contact with Jánek Valach, who is still close to Sagan, we have known each other for many years and we have never discussed this. Despite the fact that a few years later Sagan himself said how there was a lack of respect in the peloton and how the young riders were behaving.
That was what you were criticizing too, wasn’t it?
Exactly. And when I was asked where it started, I mentioned Sagan, who had to start the sprints and guard himself. He didn’t have a team train. He learned to ride so that no one could get too close to him. Sometimes he threw an unnecessary and dangerous wave there, that’s what I was talking about. But it’s just a matter of perspective… I have no problem with Sagan and if I’m around when they’re in Prague, I might stop by to see them.
