Two weeks after winning her 4th Tour de France, Tadej Pogacar has brought up his world champion jersey and resumed “competition” … on occasion of the 7th edition of Criterium Tadej Pogacarthis Saturday evening in his hometown of Komenda, Slovènie. And for the first time since the creation of the event, it is the one that bears his name who lifted his arms, at the end of the 35 laps of a circuit of one kilometer in the heart of the city. To the rhythm of “Pogi, pogi“Who have not stopped being chanted throughout the race and until late at night, the star ofUAE Team Emirates-XRG won the sprint in front of his compatriot and already triple winner of this race Luka Mezgecand his former teammate Matteo Trentin. Beyond this beautiful celebration around the national and local hero, the world champion had mainly delivered a press conference rich in lessons earlier in the day. His motivation, the continuation of his career, his end-of-season calendar … Many subjects have been discussed, whose details are to be found above!
Video – Tadej Pogacar won his criterium in Komenda
“I rested, I took stock and I am ready for new battles”
“I am happy to be back home, to see my friends, my neighbors, my family. It is true that sometimes I would like to be a little less known, sometimes take photos and sign autographs is tiring, other times a little less, but I try to please everyone“. It is with these words reported by the Slovenian media Sports club what Tadej Pogacar started the press conference preceding this 7th edition of the Coupe Tadej Pogacarthis Saturday afternoon. After a few days without bicycle to cut after the Tourthe Slovenian had quietly returned to training in Monaco, notably sharing an outing with Pauline Ferrand-Prévotbefore taking the direction of his country and his hometown this weekend for a great popular party. These two weeks of break seem to have done him the greatest good, he who seemed to be physically exhausted and mentally tired after an intense month of July.
“Anyone can have a bad day. We cannot expect me to shine with happiness during the 21 stages. The tour was really difficult, one of the most difficult I have ever run, all those who were fighting for the general classification can confirm it. But now I have rested, I took stock and I'm ready for new battles“, he explained with a smile found, invigorated and ready to set off on the assault of many victories, such as the Pogacar cannibal that we know.
“I will not hide that I already count the years until retirement”
What to dismiss an end of career and a premature retirement, as some of his statements heard at the end of the round? “”I will not hide that I already count the years until retirement. I started winning early, and there could be worse results, but I'm ready for anything. I will probably participate in other laps, even if we can never guarantee that we will participate. The Tour is the most important race and I doubt that the team leaves me at home for a few more years“confirmed the world champion.
Its calendar: Canada, Worlds … and a return to the European Championships before Lombardy!
What will be the continuation of the program for Tadej Pogacar ? The Slovenian spoke of his calendar, from which was removed The return After his need for rest at the exit of Tour. As you would expect, he will resume as last year in Canada at GP from Quebec and Montreal (September 12 and 14), before taking the direction of Rwanda to defend his rainbow jersey on the Kigali circuit, during the Worldwide (September 28). So far, nothing new or very surprising, but the continuation will however upset its usual end of the Italian season, with a participation planned for the online race of the European Championships in France on October 5, a first since 2021 for him!
“According to our information, there will be a European championship for climbers this year, so I will probably be there. It is similar to a spring race won by Juan Ayuso this year (the Faun Ardêche Classic, which he won in 2024, editor's note). But these European championships probably mean that I will not be able to participate in any other Italian classic, with the exception of Lombardy“, He detailed. Pogacar should therefore zap the traditional tour of the Italian classic at the end of the season to focus on Europe then the Tour of Lombardy (October 11), where he will aim for nothing less than a 5th consecutive victory to close his immense season as every year.
