This first weekend of July is certainly a particularly demanding weekend for UAE Team Emirates-XRG. On one hand, the Emirati team has moved to Spain to dedicate proper attention to the first phase of the most important and prestigious appointment in the world, the Tour de France, with its brightest star, Tadej Pogacar. On the other hand, it has decided to head to Romania to try to test and gather new successes with another precious part of its roster.

For this latter purpose, the world's best team of the last three years has decided to put Fabio Baldato in charge of the team car who, demonstrating his multitasking abilities, during the afternoon time trial at the Sibiu Tour we saw him attentive to the performance of his riders on the road and, at the same time, careful not to miss the news coming from the Grande Boucle. We decided to involve him on both fronts, trying to get him to tell us more.

Fabio, having seen Pogacar up close in recent seasons, what do you think he should pay particular attention to in this Tour de France?

"Certainly unforeseen circumstances are always lurking, so risks must be calculated, he shouldn't go beyond limits in terms of racing style. Then certainly he must be careful not to underestimate anyone, but he always does that because he's not a show-off, on the contrary, he always remains who he is. For the rest, he's surrounded by a strong team, he's created a nice group of friends around him and from them he manages to get the best precisely because there's so much cohesion: some of them have even renewed their contracts for another two or three years before the Tour and this contributes to creating even more the right atmosphere and peace of mind. In general, however, I don't feel I need to give him any particular advice because he's the first to be careful about all the little things and then also demands that those around him, from teammates to staff, do the same and, you know, if you manage to raise everyone's level of attention then you end up getting the best".

The extreme heat that has been talked about so much and is still being discussed in France – have you also factored in that it could cause problems?

"Like everyone else. I saw Ineos with their elbows soaking before the time trial to stay cool... Let's say it's something that has always been paid attention to: when in 2011 I did and won the Tour with Cadel Evans, ice beds and various ice remedies already existed, which for a few years were set aside and now have come back into use. Pogacar, who was someone who just three years ago particularly suffered from the heat, has worked a lot on this, as well as on diet and other aspects. He's a true professional and he himself goes looking for where he might improve and what he can do to achieve it. On this too, however, he won't have to lower his guard".

Looking at the yellow jersey, how can we frame, if we can do so now, the role of Del Toro?

"This is a question that should be asked to my colleagues who are at the Tour and to Maxtin in particular because I'm here at the Sibiu Tour: they certainly know how to manage him. Isaac in any case is in France mainly to be by Tadej's side and be his last man, but let's see what happens".

Speaking of the Sibiu Tour, how have the riders arrived and what are the objectives for the guys you've brought here?

"The first objective was to do well in the first day's time trial, which is very technical and particular, with Oliveira and Johansen, and we managed that. After that, we have with us two promising young climbers like Pablo Torres and Pericas to whom we'd like to try to give space. We're counting a lot on them for the future. Here they'll have the responsibility to race and they can have the support of some good pacemakers, but once in the climbs it will be up to them to show themselves. Overall, however, I still see Finn as the favorite who, although young, from the way he's going I think will be the man to beat".

What about Baroncini?

"Yesterday morning's stage could have been a semi-stage for him, unfortunately though it turned out to be less demanding than expected. There will still be the fourth stage where he could try to make a move. The two mountain stages I think are a bit too hard for him but the last day, depending on the classification to defend, he could have the space to do something. In any case he's doing well, he's here with us, he's going strong, he's back in the group and that's important".

Some transfers will become official from August 1st, but I imagine you've already made moves to further strengthen the squad during this period...

"Many operations have already been concluded for some time. Maxtin and Giannetti, our bosses, I know have worked well and made some good moves. We have full confidence in them".

So we'll see an even stronger UAE?

"Certainly. The first thing I'm happy we managed to do was confirm the core of this group. Undoubtedly there will be some new signings, but let's wait for the official announcements to talk about them".