Tadej Pogachar is 10 seconds ahead of Jonas Vingegaard in the Tour de France overall. But he seems content to sit back and wait until the final week of the Tour, perhaps the final stage in the mountains, ready to launch fewer but stronger attacks.

Pogachar is aware that neither he nor Vingegaard have the physical or psychological advantage at the moment in a rivalry that continues to push both riders to their limits. Next week in Paris, at least the physical aspect will be settled.

"Last year we were way behind [on the second day of rest] and maybe we were too greedy," Pogachar admitted. 'I was making silly moves. This year I have more control

"This time I'm not so far behind in terms of time. Maybe one time, I'm doing 100 percent.

Last year, Pogachar was thwarted by the combination of Jumbo Visma's calculated team tactics and the in-form Vingegaard. This year, he faces other problems, including pain from a fractured navicular bone sustained in Liège-Bastogne-Liège and delays in training. He still has some pain in his wrist, but is trying to put it aside.

"The leg is good and that is the most important thing. After that I will see how my wrist is doing and then I will probably rest a little bit after the Tour."

Pogachar and Vingegaard enjoyed a second day of rest in the Alps, while his partner Urschka Zigato joined the UAE Team Emirates leader's ride. It appears he finally spent a day away from Vingegaard.

Their next showdown will be Tuesday's time trial in the Alps valley between Passy and Combrue near Saranche.

Pogacar believes the 22-km race against the clock will be a step toward the two most important mountain stages, the Col de la Rosé to Courchevel on stage 17 and the Vosges and Marcstein climb on stage 20.

"I reconfirmed the time trials of stages 17 and 16, and even if I am not familiar with Marc Stein, I am more or less familiar with this area," Pogachar said. [However, depending on how the race unfolds on stage 20, it could be even tougher. Three very complicated stages lie ahead."

Pogachar denied that there was any psychological warfare going on between himself and Vingegaard, suggesting instead that each was focused on himself and his own race.

"Jonas looks pretty good in the group and doesn't seem too nervous. I think this year he will be more on his feet than in his head," Pogachar predicted.

Pogachar, who appeared relaxed and answered questions via video call, was willing to answer penetrating questions such as why he sometimes takes off his gloves before the start of the final climb in this race.

"I like the feeling I get when I am running without gloves. But when I crash and get scratches on my hands, it really hurts," he noted.

Pogachar was also unfazed about the degree of skepticism prevalent among some fans when asked the same question that Vingegaard had to face on Sunday, when both he and the Dane tackled several different climbs and set time records. They were not.

"Yes," he said.

"I always get this question every year and my answer is the same. We are running fast and I understand why people ask the question because of what has happened in cycling's past. I totally understand it."

Regarding his rivalry with Vingegaard, the Slovenian stressed that he is not sure who is mentally better, but "we definitely push each other to improve ourselves and the team."

"For the third year in a row, I have to say I'm enjoying this fight right now. It's a good duel. I have great respect for this fight."

Before the Tour, Pogachar might have been prepared for the current GC situation and a 10-second gap on the second rest day. But from here to Paris, there is no indication that he will accept that.