Tadej Pogacar, the two-time Tour de France champion, sees a silver lining in his wrist fracture, considering it a timely occurrence ahead of the 2023 Tour. The 24-year-old cyclist, who rides for UAE Team Emirates, suffered the injury during the Liege-Bastogne-Liege race in April. Despite the setback, Pogacar views the accident as a fortunate event that allowed him a valuable period of rest before his quest for a third Tour de France victory.

"You could say it happened at a perfect time. Naturally, I didn’t want it to happen like that, but I was due a long break, and I guess the injury just forced me to rest a bit more," Pogacar said in an interview with The National.

"I was back on the indoor trainer a week after the crash. That way I could hold my fitness a bit, and I also was doing rehab on the wrist and some running, core work, etc. I’ve already been back on the road for a few weeks now and feeling pretty good. It shouldn’t hinder me too much for the Tour, I think."

When asked about his pursuit of a third victory at the Tour de France, Pogacar expressed:  "When you want to win a race, you have to trust the guys around you 100 per cent. We have a great team and understand each other well. There will also be strong competitors, so it won’t be straightforward, but we’ll give it a good crack."

Prior to the Tour de France, Pogacar is set to make his comeback to competitive racing by participating in the National Championships in Slovenia. He will be taking part in the time trial on Thursday and the road race on Sunday, both located in the northwestern region of Slovenia near the border with Austria.

As the upcoming events draw near, Pogacar and his teammates, including Adam Yates, Rafal Majka, Marc Soler, and Felix Grosschartner, have been diligently preparing by training and conducting reconnaissance rides in Sestriere, situated in the majestic Italian Alps. They have been focusing on altitude training to enhance their performance and readiness for the upcoming challenges.

Anticipated to be included in the UAE Team Emirates' roster for the Tour de France, all of them will play a crucial role in supporting Pogacar as he aims for the ultimate triumph in the overall standings. Their collective efforts and teamwork will be instrumental in maximizing Pogacar's chances of securing victory in the prestigious cycling event.