Come on, let’s be sincere: Tadej Pogačar can’t actually get any higher. Like, severely, how can he probably be a greater bicycle owner? Assault at first of races versus 100km or 80km to go? Win Grand Excursions by half-hour as an alternative of 10, and Monuments by quarter-hour versus three?
The Slovenian is on the highway to finishing biking, three Excursions de France, one Giro d’Italia, and 7 Monuments already saved away within the again pockets of his rainbow jersey. And one way or the other, in a declaration that certainly has your complete peloton mouthing expletives, the 26-year-old nonetheless believes he can get higher.
“I imply, I could make enhancements for certain and my expertise continues to be rising,” the UAE Crew Emirates rider mentioned at his staff’s annual media day in Benidorm, Spain, held on the Terra Mitica theme park (Pogačar didn’t journey any of the rollercoasters, sadly).
“I nonetheless don’t contemplate myself as an previous man or older rider, I’m nonetheless fairly younger, so perhaps there’s some room for improvement. We’ll wait and see within the winter if I can enhance some extra. For now it seems good, however we are going to see within the first races if I will be higher. Even when it’s a bit of bit worse than this yr it could actually nonetheless be OK.”
Athletes are insatiable: whereas everybody else lauds their achievements and will get into pointless and unwinnable debates with their buddies over which win or rider was higher, they plan the longer term. They’re at all times wanting forward, hardly ever again.
“Individuals, us people, we’re bettering ourselves till the very finish, and I believe in sport it’s the identical,” the world champion mentioned. “We attempt to enhance till the top of our careers, and once you can not enhance a lot extra it’s time to complete your profession.
“All the main points on the bike, off the bike, coaching, diet, sleeping, you’ll be able to at all times make it higher, make it 100% good. I attempt to attempt for perfection, yearly [I want to] make one step extra. It’s having a ritual every single day. You’ll be able to concentrate on what you wish to do with none disturbances. That’s one of the best factor to enhance.”
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His 2024, he gleefully acknowledges, was “distinctive”, a “excellent season”, a “nice yr”. It’s good to listen to that he “had a good time.” It is best to hope in order nicely, 25 wins in 57 race days being his closing rely.
How can 2025 be totally different? Fast reply: the cobbles are again. He received the Tour of Flanders in 2023, however didn’t defend his title resulting from his participation on the Giro d’Italia in Might. However subsequent spring he’ll be there, crushing the pavé, using previous the Belgians with their frites and their beer and their large rampant lion flags.
“This yr was a bit totally different however I wish to return to the cobbles at the very least just a few extra occasions in my profession. It doesn’t matter if I’ve the world championship stripes or not, I similar to to be there,” he mentioned, additionally confirming that he’ll race E3 Harelbeke and Gent-Wevelgem.
The Giro, too, may additionally be again on his calendar, however that is dependent upon the Vuelta a España’s parcours; the Spanish Grand Tour releases its parcours on December 19. “I did the Giro-Tour, and it’d be good to do the Tour-Vuelta, or the Giro-Vuelta,” he mentioned.
For now he nonetheless doesn’t know, the hypothesis will proceed, however he will certainly do two three-week races, both the Giro or Vuelta becoming a member of the Tour on his calendar. “The Tour is an important one, the most important race. We came upon this yr two Grand Excursions are very nice you probably have fine condition,” he mentioned.
Just some weeks in the past, he signed a brand new contract reportedly value €8m a yr – roughly €22,000 a day. It ties him down at UAE till the top of the 2030 season, by which era he’ll in all probability have received each WorldTour race there’s to win and perhaps even have eclipsed Eddy Merckx as the best rider of all time.
“Once you signal an extended contract, you’re extra calm on this method,” he mentioned. “You concentrate on biking, on being good, you don’t fear about when the time is coming to signal a brand new contract. For certain this is a bonus,” he defined.
“Additionally, I really feel very at residence on this staff. I do know all people very nicely, I’ve some nice friendships right here, and for me it’s actually good to be right here for a very long time.”
(Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Huge targets nonetheless stay: a much-talked about Paris-Roubaix debut, after all, though it’s unlikely for just a few years; and Milan-Sanremo, the Monument he has joked will ship him to his grave. “It’s nearly probably the most unpredictable race on the calendar, one of many races I wish to enhance myself in time and again,” he mentioned of the Italian basic. “I’m getting nearer to first place, however slowly.”
What about using all three Grand Excursions in a single yr, a prospect that opened itself up after he claimed the Giro-Tour double in the summertime? “I’d like to strive it, but it surely’s not a precedence,” he mentioned, hinting at a doable try in future years.
Wherever Pogačar goes lately, he’s requested for selfies, autographs, and bidons. He’s a celebrity that’s transcending the game – maybe he’s even larger than the game, such is his stranglehold on it – however in the interim he’s not but the GOAT. However Merckx has mentioned he’s closing in. “It’s flattering,” he mentioned of the Belgian’s feedback. “I really feel proud he says these phrases.”
Carry on bettering, as he’s so assured he’ll, and there’ll now not even be a debate.
