– It’s quite special, because not many people can race on the same team as the Tour winner, Stake Laengen told NTB before the world’s toughest cycling race restarted.
The 33-year-old is the only assistant rider allowed to join the UAE Tour team in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Laengen believes this is because he puts all his personal ambitions aside.
– It’s important to focus on that. At home in Norway, there is always talk of breaking up and seeking your own opportunities. But the most important thing is to put everything personal aside, he said and continued:
– My biggest talent is being an assistant driver, and I’ve calmed down with that. I really enjoyed the job.
Sacrificing everything for the captain
The man Laengen did everything to help reach the finish line first, was Tadej Pogacar from Slovenia.
The 23-year-old won the tour in somewhat sensational fashion in 2020 as a 21-year-old, ahead of compatriot Primoz Roglic. The following year, he replicated that feat.
– When he delivers as he does, it’s something completely different. One thing he gave, but he was also a very good person. We had a great time together, Laengen said and went on to praise his captain who is ten years his junior:
– I know him well after two years, and I feel he has a bit of imagination, polite and down to earth. I kind of forgot that you are with someone who has won the Tour de France twice. Some people forget that he is the best in the world.
Laengen is delighted with the collaboration with the Slovenian and says they are now aiming for win number three together:
– It’s on the card. We have a clear goal for that. For me, it’s all about him. It’s important in a big team, that everyone focuses on one person. That we help him every day.
– Very good at relaxing
– How is Pogacar’s competitive instincts?
– I feel he has a very competitive instinct, and he really wants to be at the forefront of the pitch and not lose time. But in his spare time he is also very good at putting it aside. Compared to the rest of the group’s riders, he’s very good at relaxing, and a lot of fun for all of us, the 33-year-old replied and continued:
– It would be tiring if he had to compete in everything.
When asked who the biggest contenders in this year’s Tour de France are, the Norwegian pointed to the young Danish talent in Jonas Vingegaard. He rides like a Roglic for Jumbo-Visma.
– Roglic and Vingegaard. The two of them together. Vinegaard is young and promising, and he was very strong last year. Roglic wasn’t old, but he wasn’t young either. So he wasn’t expected to take any new steps. But maybe the Danes are the best in my opinion, Laengen replied.
