Tadej Pogacar issued an ominous warning to his Tour de France rivals on Wednesday, the two-time winner declaring "I've never felt so good on a bike".
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The Slovenian is seeking to become the first cyclist since Marco Pantani in 1998 – the year Pogacar was born – to win both the Giro d'Italia and Tour in the same season.
And three days before the 2024 edition of cycling's showcase event starts in Florence, Pogacar oozed confidence as he aims to add to his 2020 and 2021 Tour triumphs.
"I have the feeling that I've made progress since the Giro and that my form is better than expected," said the 25-year-old, runner-up to Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard in the past two years.
"I've tested my legs a little and to be honest, I've never felt so good on a bike," he told his UAE Team's website.
"Everyone thinks that I'm going to win the Tour every year, but I didn't win the last two times," added Pogacar, whose preparations last year were hampered by a wrist fracture.
"A lot of things weren't right after my fall in Liege," he recalled.
"I found out who was there to help me and who wasn't. There was disappointment and negative energy around me and I wasn't feeling 100 per cent confident on the Tour.
"All that built up to a point where I crumbled. It was during the time trial at Combloux. After that I was at a standstill."
Twelve months on it is in-form Pogacar's rivals who have endured less than ideal build-ups to the three-week marathon that starts in Florence and ends this year in Nice due to preparations for the Paris Olympics.
Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel and Pogacar's fellow countryman Primoz Roglic have all had falls that have interrupted their preparations.
"Jonas was really badly injured (with multiple fractures) but I think he'll be okay. If he is feeling mentally strong and has made a good recovery he will be at his top level.
"We saw that Remco and Primoz were in good shape in the Dauphine and I reckon they'll be at their best.
"But you never know. Last year I thought I was 100 per cent, but one day I was really good, then the next I wasn't ready."
Asked if he was keen to make a strong start to exploit any possible weakness in his main contenders for the 2024 title he shrugged: "I can't speak too much about that. The first two stages are difficult and will show where we all are compared to one another.
"We'll decide after the first two stages how to approach the following days."