Tadej Pogačar travelled to Canada on Tuesday for the GP Cycliste de Québec and GP Cycliste de Montréal, kicking off his end-of-season race marketing campaign and aiming for the UCI Street World Championships in Zurich, Switzerland on the finish of the month.
Pogačar has not raced since successful the Tour de France in Good on July 21. He opted out of the Paris Olympics and most well-liked to relaxation up and prepare after finishing the Giro d’Italia-Tour de France double.
Including the world title and rainbow jersey to his 2024 palmares would imply Pogačar joins Eddy Merckx (1974) and Stephen Roche (1987) as the one male triple crown winners. Annemiek van Vleuten accomplished the ladies’s triple crown in 2022.
“I do not know what number of Grand Excursions Primož Roglič and I’ve received now however a Slovenian has by no means received the world title. I hope to place that proper,” Pogačar mentioned in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.
Pogačar rode on the Zurich World Championship course throughout a current occasion with private sponsor Plume in Switzerland. It appeared excellent for his aggressive racing model.
“It is exhausting however not tremendous exhausting, but it surely’s the riders who at all times make the race,” he defined.
“Final 12 months individuals thought the Glasgow Worlds would finish in a dash however that by no means occurred. This 12 months is extra suited to the climbers. It is a punchy course, for aggressive riders, with some technical elements. It is an ideal Worlds course.
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“If Mathieu van der Poel is on nice type, he may combat for victory and shock us. It might have been excellent for Wout van Aert and so it is a pity he will not race because of his crash. Then there’s Remco [Evenepoel], like me he is a really versatile rider and might win on any terrain.”
Pogačar received the GP Cycliste de Montreal in 2022 and this 12 months is arguably the favorite for each the better GP Cycliste de Québec on Friday after which Sunday’s hilly GP Cycliste de Montréal. Montréal will host the 2026 Street World Championships on an analogous course.
Pogačar will spearhead a powerful UAE Workforce Emirates squad in Canada, with former Montréal winner Tim Wellens and Juan Ayuso as different leaders. Finishing the workforce are Igor Arrieta, Finn Fisher-Black and Rafal Majka.
“I’ve had an excellent break from racing and I am desirous to get again to it now beginning in Canada,” Pogačar mentioned. “It is a fantastic a part of the world to journey a motorcycle in and I’ve nice recollections right here from two years in the past.
“My situation is nice and I’m targeted on having fun with and doing effectively on this final a part of the season. The extent will likely be excessive there as at all times and we’ll must be at our greatest. No matter occurs for the remainder of the season I could be proud of what I’ve achieved this 12 months. The rest will likely be a bonus.”
Indubitably, he has improved in 2024. What has been the most important factor that has modified?
“I’ve labored lots off the bike, the setting round me has modified a bit. Small particulars on the bike, a unique mentality of me and people round me. I’m extra comfy on the bike, the coaching plan has been totally different.”
The problem now could be to take care of this stage or attempt to enhance much more?
“I believe there may be room for additional enchancment. My life is just not 110% devoted to biking. Focusing additional with a stronger mentality… on many particulars like vitamin and different issues… it may go even higher. Or worse, who is aware of. We’ll try to see the way it goes.
“To illustrate I am on the highway, however I’ve to proceed doing what I have been doing for the previous couple of years. To be the most effective, you need to excel in each facet in comparison with your rivals to the purpose that everybody agrees that you simply actually are the most effective. It might be wonderful to do this, however I am not fascinated about it an excessive amount of.
“And if I do not succeed, by no means thoughts. I am simply fascinated about having as a lot enjoyable as potential in racing and with biking.”
