The route was unveiled last Thursday: for the 2027 Tour, speaking of winners and favorites and casting a glance at the next Grande Boucle, the route would not seem to be an obstacle for Tadej Pogacar and this would already make him a possible number one for the yellow jersey race. The doubt, for Christian Prudhomme, is another one: understanding in what physical and mental condition the Slovenian will arrive at the 2027 Tour de France, after the serious crash at the Vuelta a España that ended his season prematurely.

Four days after the route presentation, the race director has indicated Pogacar as the main favorite. "He has dominated so much in recent years and possesses such immense talent that, for him, the course matters very little". The Slovenian champion, winner of five Tours, will aim for his sixth yellow jersey: an achievement that would tie him with the all-time record.

But the crash at the Vuelta changes the terms of the prediction. "The real question is: how will he manage to recover", Prudhomme observed, questioning not only Pogacar's physical recovery, but also his willingness to take the same risks as before. "Can you remain the same person after a crash like that?".

To explain the possible weight of a serious accident, Prudhomme recalled Eddy Merckx and his Blois crash: the Belgian champion said he was never the same again, especially on a mental level. "And yet - the Tour director added - he still won the race four more times".

The 2027 route features two time trials for a total of 71 kilometers, the highest figure since 2012, and three mountain finishes. A combination that could offer space to time trial specialists, but Prudhomme rejected the idea that the route was designed against Pogacar: "He loves challenges. He could even win both time trials". For now we are talking about hypotheses and ideas and we will have to wait until July 2nd next year to know what will happen, when the Tour starts from Edinburgh and concludes in Paris on July 25th.