'I’m getting better with every day' - Tadej Pogacar gives an update on his Vuelta crash recovery

Tadej Pogačar has revealed he is "getting better with every day" after his Vuelta a España crash and multiple fractures ended his 2026 season prematurely.

Pogačar is in Slovenia for a few days and spoke via video at the presentation of the 2031 super World Championships that will be held in the Trentino region of Italy. He is reportedly an ambassador for the event.

There was speculation that Pogačar could make a surprise return to racing this weekend at the European Championships in Slovenia but a source close to the UAE Team Emirates-XRG riders told Domestique that he is simply visiting family and friends at home.

"I’m doing well; I’m getting better with every day after the crash. I’m riding the bike and enjoying the last nice autumn days here in Slovenia," Pogačar said. 

Pogačar began training outdoors a week ago and admitted his partner and fellow pro Urška Žigart is making him suffer.

"In the last few days she's been kicking my ass on the climbs and on the downhills too. I have to follow her now but we're having a good time on the bike together," he said.    

Pogačar was unable to defend his world title in Montreal and his reign as European title will end on Sunday. UAE teammate Brandon McNulty is the new world champion and will make his debut in the rainbow jersey on Saturday at the Giro dell'Emilia in Italy.

Pogačar has already congratulated his teammate.

"Of course, I spoke with Brandon; at the World Championships I was rooting for a few people in the final of the race and one of them was Brandon," he said. 

"It was a beautiful, incredible race. When Brandon crossed the line and won I couldn't believe he had done it. I was so, so happy for him. We spoke the next day and it was a special moment."

Pogacar recently extended his contract with UAE until 2032 and said he hopes to race in Trentino in 2031.

"I’ll be 33 years old; I hope I'll be there and racing. It's my dream to still be good then," he said, with a caveat.

"I’m not getting any younger. For sure there are going to be many, many rivals for this World Championships that we don't even know yet. 

"Every year is going to be harder but that doesn't matter. I'm looking forward to being there in 2031 for the super World Championships in Trentino. I'll give my best if I have the chance."

The 2031 World Championships in Trentino will be the third edition of the so-called super World Championships, that bring together the road, track, mountain bike, gravel, para-cycling, indoor, pump track, e-sports e bike polo world titles. 

The first super Worlds were held in Glasgow in 2023, with Haute-Savoie, in the French Alps hosting the next edition in 2027.