Pogacar’s aspirations remain sky-high as he prepares to defend his World Championship title, leaving cycling enthusiasts eager to see what he will achieve next.
Tadej Pogacar, Slovenia’s pride and one of the biggest stars in world cycling,
has recently been basking in the glow of a memorable year. With his fiancée
Urska Zigart by his side, the UAE Team Emirates rider found himself in the
spotlight once again, winning an award in Slovenia that reflected his
dominance on two wheels. And while he could easily rest on his laurels after a
year filled with victories, including his first-ever World Championship win,
Pogacar is already thinking ahead to the challenges of 2025. His plans,
however, are not fixed — he is in the fortunate position of being able to choose
where his focus lies, and he’s already shared some insights into his next steps
in the sport.
No Time to Rest, But Plenty to Celebrate.
The 2024 season was an exceptional one for Pogacar. From stunning victories
at some of the biggest races in cycling to an unforgettable performance at the
World Championships in Zurich, the young Slovenian has proven himself as a
force to be reckoned with. His triumph at the World Championship was
particularly special. In a race that many expected to be decided in a bunch
sprint, Pogacar broke away from the peloton with 100 kilometers to go,
executing a daring solo effort that earned him the rainbow jersey. “There have
been so many great victories this year,” Pogacar said in a candid conversation
with RTV SLO. “But the national team victory at the World Championship may
have a little more meaning. It’s hard to say which victory is the most important
— the whole season has been superb.”
However, as any top athlete knows, success doesn’t come without its
challenges. Defending a title, particularly the World Championship, is one of
the hardest feats in sport. “I’ve defended my victories in several races before,”
Pogacar explained. “Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t. The World
Championship will be the hardest to defend because it’s a specific race. Only a
few cyclists have managed to repeat their victory there. That makes it even
more special, and I will approach it with great care in the future.”
The Classics: Where the Magic Happens.
While his success at the Tour de France, where he demonstrated his
supremacy in the mountains and clinched his third overall title, is undeniable,
Pogacar has always had a special love for the one-day races — the classics. For
him, the Monuments, the biggest one-day races in cycling, hold a unique place
in his heart. “The Tour de France is certainly the biggest race in the world, and
it’s an incredible experience, but I really enjoy the classics,” he confessed. “The
beauty of one-day races is that you only need to focus on one day. There’s no
struggle for 21 days — just one moment of glory.” It’s in these one-day races,
like Milan-Sanremo, the Tour of Flanders, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, that
Pogacar thrives, and he has made no secret of his desire to take victories at
these iconic events in the years to come.
Pogacar also mentioned that, while Paris-Roubaix is one of cycling’s most
coveted prizes, he isn’t yet ready to target this brutal race. “Not yet,” he said
when asked about Paris-Roubaix. “If the form is right, I could always adjust
my program, but I don’t see myself targeting this race just yet. Another year or
two, maybe three, and then we’ll see.” But the Vuelta a España, he confirmed,
will be a more immediate goal. “The Vuelta will definitely be a priority earlier
in the season than Paris-Roubaix.”
Rest is Just as Important as the Race.
Even champions need time to recharge, and after his victory at Il Lombardia,
Pogacar took a well-earned break. “When it was time to rest, it was really time
not to think about the bike,” he said, reflecting on his downtime. “Now in
Slovenia, it’s been quite cold. The kind of weather where you need to grit your
teeth and get the training done, but I’m looking forward to the first joint
preparations in warmer places, when it will be a real pleasure to train.”
Pogacar’s off-season routine is just as carefully considered as his race
schedule. Although he’s been spending time at home in Monaco and in
Slovenia, the first joint training camp with his UAE Team Emirates squad will
soon take place in a warmer climate, setting the stage for the next chapter in
his career. “A few more things need to be arranged, but the preparations with
the team will begin in December,” he concluded.
With a calendar that will soon be shaped, a career brimming with potential,
and an outlook that balances the pressure of being one of cycling’s top stars
with the joy of the race itself, Tadej Pogacar is ready to continue making his
mark on the sport. As he looks ahead to the classics, the Grand Tours, and the
World Championship defense, Pogacar’s ambitions remain as high as ever —
and cycling fans can only wait to see what he accomplishes next.
