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Heading into Tuesday’s Stage 2 time trial of the UAE Tour, one rider was attracting more attention than anyone else. His name was Tobias Foss.
rear GCN When the Ineos Grenadiers recruit was set to race against the clock on a 68-tooth chainring, the camera lens was never far from the team’s viewing platform before the race. Next, the Norwegian specialist and former world champion took fourth place.
“I think expectations are always high after winning a world championship, but I think it was an average TT,” Foss said. GCNHe looked back on the time trial before the start of Stage 5. “I still missed out on some high-intensity races because my level was average, but that was also according to plan. I think it was a well-organized time trial in the end and I think my level of ability at the moment is I think I was able to demonstrate that.”
Phos spoke. GCN Immediately after squeezing his tall body into a Gobik skin suit. Stage 5 was supposed to be a sprinter’s stage, but on flat terrain like this aerodynamics is always worth considering, and Foss’s skinsuit for the road stage was, at least in some sense, a skinsuit for time trials. I imagine that it was lighter than that.
Of course, adorning the suit that Foss will wear for time trials for the rest of his career is a rainbow band honoring his 2022 World Time Trial Championship win in Australia. They may be paying homage to one of the best moments of his career. But the colorful band also carries the burden of expectations, which are unfairly placed on the 26-year-old’s shoulders.
Ever since that special day when the Norwegian defeated Switzerland’s Stefan Künn and Belgium’s Remko Evenepoel to win the world title, the pressure has been hanging over his head to repeat his extraordinary performance. Ta.
As each time trial passed and he did not achieve victory, the criticism of his performance and the ridicule of his World Championship victory only increased. But while Foss is right, such expectations are unfounded.
“If you look at 2022, when I won the World Championship, if you look at the year as a whole I was always top 10, top 5, sometimes close to the podium, so I was always at the top, but not on the best time trial list. “I was the best that day and it was the World Championships, so I was really lucky.”
read more: Tobias Voss uses monster 68-tooth chainring in UAE Tour time trial
Such balance and understanding of his rhetoric will allow Fosu to be content with fourth place behind three UAE Team Emirates riders in the second stage. He may not yet add to his only non-national championship win, but an exceptional run is a possibility. An exemplary performance that may not be replicated but is just as enjoyable.
“I’m grateful for that and I have to be realistic that at the end of the day I had never won a time trial before. So for me it’s unrealistic to expect to win every time. In fact, after proving it to myself, my belief is stronger than before.”I believe that I have the ability to win the world championship.” ”
With just 14 seconds separating him from race leader Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) who came out of Stage 2, the 26-year-old was ready to live up to the team’s pre-race expectations of taking on the general division. . .
Ineos Grenadiers sporting director Oli said: “We brought Tobias Voss here to have a good time trial on stage two and then we will look after him as best we can for the GC. “Let’s take a look at the situation on a mountain day.” Cookson said. GCN On the eve of the race, the Norwegian expressed his joy at seeing his first appearance in 2024.
“I’m very happy to have him in the team and he’s a great talent. It’ll be interesting to see how he competes with everyone on the uphills and tomorrow at the TT.”
However, Foss’s hopes were slightly thwarted by a lunar-like stage three summit finish at Jebel Jais.
“I got too excited about Jebel Jais,” Foss admits.
Approaching the top of the 20km climb, with most of the peloton still intact at the front of the race, UAE Team Emirates passed through Mikkel Bjorg and set a steady, if not breakneck, tempo. However, as they neared the false summit (the mountain’s peak was actually several kilometers further away), the Decathlon AG2R La Mondial blew the group to pieces, forcing Foss and others to the back of the pack.
read more: When plans come true: Ben O’Connor hits the jackpot on UAE tour
“It was my first time being up there, so I think I’m definitely going to do a lot of things differently,” Foss said honestly. “I was too eager and got a lot of wind and got a little too far ahead. I think it’s a climb where you can save a lot if you’re stuck in the pack behind you.” [energy]. ”
Foss, whose gasket blew early on the climb, could only watch in agony as stage winner Ben O’Connor and soon-to-be new race leader Jay Vine raced to the finish line. About 20 seconds after O’Connor’s memorable victory, Foss jumped over the line looking a little worse for wear.
The Norwegian was 19th on the day, 33 seconds behind Vine, who wore a red jersey. But while initially disappointing, Foss’s struggles were less surprising in the finale, which looked much more difficult than the race’s previous summit visits.
“I messed up a bit there and it ended up being a really explosive final, with Decathlon AG2R La Mondial really impressing me. I haven’t had that foundation in my training so far and it’s not my specialty. No, but I think that’s why it was okay.
“We could have used our energy a little better and done a little more damage control.”
read more: UAE Tour Stage 3: Ben O’Connor wins over Jebel Jais
Perhaps after three successive sprint stages, Jebel Hafeet will get a chance for revenge on Sunday’s finale stage.
Jebel Hafeet selected for UAE tour
Currently in seventh place, Foss has a chance to aim for a podium finish at this year’s UAE Tour, with the race for victory still wide open. Vine may currently hold the GC lead, but the Australian struggled to combine team tactics with a top performance on Wednesday and was again under pressure from Decathlon AG2R La Mondial on Sunday. It might happen.
For Foss, the focus will be on bringing out the best in himself, something he wasn’t able to do on the shallow slopes of Jebel Jais. Jebel Hafeet, by contrast, may have historically been more suited to pure mountaineers – it is a shorter but steeper climb than Jebel Jais – but Foss said he was also more suited than earlier in the week. I believe it will work out.
“It’s not as forgiving being at the back and probably not as explosive as the third stage final,” he pointed out.
“So if I go into this match with confidence, I’m going to go full throttle for another 24 to 25 minutes and win the top prize. I think I’m in good enough shape to at least be in the top spot somewhere.” I am confident that it will.”
read more: Brandon McNulty: “It’s nice to be able to play multiple cards on the UAE Tour”
Jebel Hafeet, who scored 6.6% with 11km to go, will provide an enthusiastic curtain call to a grueling week of racing in the United Arab Emirates. This climb between Foss, O’Connor and Vine promises to produce a worthy successor to the Remco Evenepoel crown from 2023 onwards. But will the Norwegian benefit?
It may be beneficial to be able to ride without the pressure of the rainbow band on your arms.
For all the important information about the 2024 UAE Tour, check out our dedicated race hub for a full preview, race start list and more.
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