He was, in fact, not only there to show the whole world the beautiful bike with a pop art look on which he will ride on Sunday, but also to share the appetite that he wants to satisfy this weekend. Becoming world champion after completing the Giro-Tour double would constitute a major performance because it is very rare. This is precisely what the current best runner in the world wants to endorse, who would equal Eddy Merckx (in 1974) and the Irishman Stephen Roche (1987) in this feat.
gullThe course has never suited me as well as this time.
At 26, the time finally seems to have come for him to put on the rainbow tunic. This is because the course seems tailor-made for the Slovenian who claims to be at the top of his form and no more stressed than that by the challenge. In any case, he recalls, always relaxed but with a predatory smile, that he puts pressure on himself (to win) almost every time he starts a race. “Since December, I have had the Worlds in the back of my mindhe says. I’m more excited than ever because the course has never suited me as well as this time.”
“You will eventually break down”: Tadej Pogacar gives an overview of his diet before the Worlds
To put all the chances on his side, the one who has already registered six Monuments on his list favors rest and… relaxation. He does not hesitate to regularly take vacations with his partner Urska, also a cyclist. “After the Tour, I had to cut it. It was necessary because I was exhausted”he said.
gullThe rainbow jersey is unique.
“Today, Tadej is very fresh, both mentally and physicallysay those around him. It’s night and day with the state he was in twelve months ago.” In Glasgow, he took third place in the global meeting behind Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert. “This time, I feel better. With Primoz and the rest of the team, we want to go get this unique jersey. I want to experience the pleasure of wearing it for twelve months.”
The person concerned adds: “Since the start of the year, all the pieces of the puzzle have come together well. I am very satisfied with the choices I have made.” And therefore to have skipped the Olympic Games. “I really want to do battle. I always start a race with the primary aim of having fun, not by telling myself that I have an obligation to achieve this or that result.”
This time, he will have a veritable armada at his side. He will, in fact, be able to count on Domen Novak, Matevz Govekar, Luka Mezgec, Jan Tratnik, Matej Mohoric and a certain Primoz Roglic. “We have perhaps the greatest team of all time, with two or three cards to play”he asserts with bite.
His opponents? As always, he respects them but is not afraid of them. “If Mathieu (van der Poel) has lost a little weight, this is to be able to hook up the right wagon when the road rises. In my opinion, we should be wary of him. As for Hirschi, he is in great shape and he is at home. I’m convinced that one day he will be world champion, but I wish it wasn’t this year.”
He obviously does not forget to quote Remco Evenepoel. “He is in great shape. The number he signed on the clock demonstrates this. Especially after his scare just before the start and without a power meter. But the time trial is the area he masters best. Sunday will be a different matter.” This is promising!
How to beat the Slovenian?
Twenty-two victories on the clock this year. That is 13 more than Remco Evenepoel and… 17 more than Mathieu van der Poel. Furthermore, they are all first-rate successes. Starting with this legendary Giro-Tour double. And during the three classics that he won in 2024, namely the Strade Bianche, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Montreal GP, Pogacar arrived alone.
Man is a glutton and wins on all grounds. Last year, he dictated his law on six one-day races, and not the least, such as the Tour of Flanders, the Amstel Gold Race, the Flèche Wallonne and the Tour of Lombardy.
Uncertain participation in the Olympics, suspicions of doping and his rainbow dream: Tadej Pogacar speaks after his 3rd success on the Tour
The enormous challenge for its adversaries, including the Belgians, will therefore be to try to prevent such a scenario. And, better: to beat the Slovenian ogre. How ?
By responding to his attack. It’s not easy, of course, but it has been seen before. At the start of the year in Milan-Sanremo, Mathieu van der Poel immediately reacted to the Slovenian’s two offensives in the Poggio. Blunt, the latter ended up giving up his arms against Jasper Philipsen, MVDP teammate. A somewhat similar scenario took place two weeks ago at the Quebec GP. Following an acceleration from Julian Alaphilippe, a group of six was formed. With Tadej Pogacar. And three Lotto Dstny, which did not collaborate. Suddenly, the peloton came back and Michael Matthews won, the leader of UAE Team Emirates having to settle for 7th place.
It is also possible to attack him and then count on a placement error from the Slovenian. But they are increasingly rare. The last notable example dates from the 2022 Worlds. At the time, Evenepoel, Hermans, Dewulf and Serry slipped into a breakaway. Pogacar was slow to react, letting Brabançon go to victory. We assume that the world No. 1 will no longer make such a mistake this Sunday.
“So it’s collectively that we have a chance to beat him”summarizes Serge Pauwels. Problem: which Belgian will be able to respond to Pogacar if he attacks? “Remco is the only one who can do it”says Tiesj Benoot.
In a two-man sprint, the advantage will, in principle, go to Pogacar, who loves long, difficult races. But we know that the double Olympic champion has made enormous progress in this area.
