Luka Mezgec has maintained that Tadej Pogačar withdrew from the Paris 2024 Olympics solely because of the exclusion of his associate Urška Žigart from the Slovenian ladies’s group.
Regardless of profitable the Slovenian nationwide street race title by over ten minutes, Žigart was surprisingly omitted from the Olympic group in favour of Eugenia Bujak and Urška Pintar.
Pogačar’s rapid response to the information was a social media submit saying “no phrases,” whereas his and Žigart’s agent Alex Carera claimed that the Slovenian selectors had “broken biking.”
Shortly after sealing total victory on the Tour de France, Pogačar introduced that he had opted in opposition to competing on the Paris Olympics, citing fatigue. Talking at a post-Tour criterium within the Netherlands, Pogačar conceded that Žigart’s omission had additionally been a think about his determination. “It is not the principle cause, however for certain it did not assist,” he mentioned.
Mezgec, who will line out in Saturday’s street race on a Slovenian group that features Matej Mohorič, Domen Novak and Jan Tratnik, mentioned that he believed Pogačar had pulled out purely due to Žigart’s exclusion.
The Jayco-Alula indicated his perception that Žigart was worthy of a spot in Paris, however he steered that the Slovenian federation ought to have chosen her for the Video games in any case in an effort to guarantee Pogačar’s participation.
“As for the official cause that he’s drained, I consider it isn’t essentially the most sensible,” Mezgec advised RTV Slovenija. “I do know that even when he was as drained as he was on his deathbed, he would have come right here if Urška had been right here, as a result of he wouldn’t have been mendacity alone at residence.
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“If there was a 1% likelihood that he would wish to keep at residence for any cause, that share could be a lot smaller if Urška had been right here. Wherever Urška is, Tadej is just too.
“It might sound nasty, however possibly we should always have risked one place for Urška, even when she had not been the most effective. That’s the best way it’s, however even when she wasn’t, they need to have secured Tadej with this transfer, however they did not. Sadly, the decision-makers didn’t foresee all eventualities.”
Pogačar’s UAE Workforce Emirates companion Domen Novak was known as as much as the Slovenian quartet as his substitute. Novak steered that Pogačar had opted in opposition to the Olympics largely resulting from his exertions in finishing the Giro-Tour double, in addition to his acknowledged goal of profitable the World Championships in Zurich subsequent month.
“I believe his purpose is to compete within the Worlds on the finish of the season,” Novak mentioned. “And if he desires to carry out nicely there, he should additionally emphasise restoration and his household.”
In Pogačar’s absence, Mohorič is Slovenia’s almost certainly medal contender on Saturday. The Bahrain Victorious rider confirmed that he had tried to steer Pogačar to race in Paris.
“I attempted to persuade him, however I additionally perceive his determination and logic,” Mohorič mentioned. “Sadly, it’s what it’s.”
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