The UAE Emirates press conference was the most anticipated, with Tadej Pogacar in the rainbow jersey set to be the number one favorite for the overall victory. The Slovenian begins the Tour with confidence and serenity and is satisfied with the preparation made in recent weeks. "I feel good and I'm happy to be here. The preparation went well. I have a lot of confidence and I feel ready, even for the mountain stages that will be particularly challenging".

In the last four years, the Tour has transformed into a two-way duel between Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard. Will the Slovenian and the Dane finish first and second for the fifth consecutive year? Considering what we've seen this season, we can say with certainty that they are the true dominators and few riders will have the ability to challenge them. "We have already experienced four fantastic duels. We'll see who will be the best this year. Vingegaard is the best climber we've seen in recent years and sometimes, he's even better than me in time trials. But sometimes he's also less good than me".

The world champion is smiling and doesn't feel the pressure of the race. "It's an honor to be one of the favorites at the start. The first week will be immediately very intense, with several tricky finishes. This can offer many opportunities, but it will also be a matter of survival".

Regarding the battles, the Slovenian is convinced that the mountains will decide the fate of the race and that only the most skilled and prepared rider will arrive in Paris in the yellow jersey.

As for the final stage, this year there will be some changes to the route, with three passages on Montmartre, a choice that has sparked much discussion. "When I heard the news, I immediately thought: not many riders will be happy about this. Personally, I don't see a problem, there will just be a bit more stress. On the Champs-Élysées, you also had to be concentrated until three kilometers from the finish. I think innovations are always something positive".