Roman Kreuziger during this year’s Tour de France.
Facebook by Roman Kreuziger
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Was Monday’s day off at the Tour de France dramatically different from the years when the race was not marked by coronavirus?
Basically. We drove to the coronavirus tests, we will have the results on Tuesday. It was perfectly organized. We didn’t meet anyone at all, handed in samples and returned to the hotel. Compared to previous years, it was a much calmer day off, because we are not allowed to associate with anyone. No managers, no journalists. The press conferences were either online or we provided interviews after the previous submission of questions via audio recordings.
Are coronavirus protection regulations very binding?
The key is to stay in the imaginary bubbles created and not meet anyone from the outside world during the Tour, thus eliminating the risk of infection. Otherwise, it is a standard process. Almost constantly, if we do not ride a bike, we disinfect our hands and wear masks. We don’t associate with anyone but the team. In my opinion, all stables behave very responsibly. The organizers are doing a lot of work to get the peloton to Paris.
Roman Kreuziger during this year’s Tour de France.
Facebook by Roman Kreuziger
How did you personally spend Monday?
I indulged in the luxury of nine hours of sleep, which normally does not work during the stage. I needed to rest. I didn’t even get on the bike. So we agreed with the coach. Sleep and food are the most important factors of the Tour. So we had gluten-free pizza and salad for lunch. Although we will have two flat stages, any extra grams are undesirable.
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In the standings, you are one hundred and thirteenth after nine stages with a loss of over two hours, you finished best in the 56th. Can you tell your own mood?
I am happy that I survived the first nine stages without falling. Now we’ll see how it goes. I’m not in the perfect mood.
Are you disappointed that you failed to tune your form to the jubilee tenth start of the Tour?
I am not giving up. When you can’t, you have to add … As far as I can, I try to be beneficial to the boys on the team until it’s necessary. And then just finish the stage so that I expend as little energy as possible. I believe that I will wake up from the decline and in the second and third week of the Tour I will see myself.
The Tour de France has a new leader, Roglič goes yellow. The ninth stage was dominated by Pogačar
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What are the ambitions of your NTT formation for the remaining twelve stages?
It is, of course, unpleasant that we lost Giacomo Nizzolo, the reigning Italian champion and European champion. The Tour de France is always difficult. And this year is extraordinary. As the race has not been raced for many months, sometimes there will be some hidden injuries or problems that will force the competitor to resign. Twice we were close to the stage championship. Nizzolo was third in the third stage, Boasson Hagen second in the seventh stage. I believe that by the end of the race we will still be in the lottery for the win between the sprinters and the team will manage to win the stage.
How do you watch the battle for the yellow jersey, which takes place between Roglič, Bernal and Pogačar?
From my point of view, it is certainly not just a fight between Ineos in the form of Bernal and Jumba represented by Roglič. His Slovenian compatriot Pogačar is doing great. So far, the boys from Trek or Cannondal are also showing excellent. It’s very exciting for the fans. In my eyes, the tour is always twenty-one races, each with its own story. And this year it is confirmed.
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