'Pogacar made us a promise' - Tre Valli Varesine organiser expects world champion to race

The organisation of the Tre Valli Varesine has expressed hope that Tadej Pogačar will line out at the race after last year’s edition was abandoned due to the treacherous conditions.

Pogačar was one of the riders who liaised with the organisation to cancel the race amid heavy rainfall last October. The Slovenian praised the organisers after the cancellation had been confirmed. “This race means a lot to them, but when you can’t race, you can’t,” Pogačar said. “They understood that immediately. I’m really thankful for that.”

It was reported afterwards that Pogačar had agreed to return to the Tre Valli Varesine in 2025, but he has yet to confirm his participation in the Italian race.

Pogačar hasn’t raced since the Tour de France in July, but he returns to competition at the GP de Québec on Friday. The Canadian race is one of six confirmed on Pogačar’s schedule for the remainder of the season, with the GP de Montréal, the World Championships time trial and road race, the European Championships road race and Il Lombardia to follow.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG will be present at the Tre Valli Varesine on October 7, just two days after the European Championships road race in the Drôme-Ardêche, but the team has not yet confirmed Pogačar’s participation.

“Pogačar made us a promise,” race director Renzo Oldani said at the route presentation on Thursday, according to Malpensa24. “Let’s hope that he can keep it.”

17 of the 18 WorldTour teams will be lining up at the Tre Valli Varesine, with Arkéa-B&B Hotels the lone exception. Oldani acknowledged that he would hold a meeting with local police regarding additional security due to the presence of Israel-Premier Tech. 

The team’s participation in the Vuelta a España amid Israel’s ongoing invasion of Gaza has been the subject of repeated demonstrations during the Spanish race. Israel-Premier Tech will race under the IPT banner at the Canadian WorldTour races this weekend.

“We’re in contact with the Vuelta organisers, it’s a worry,” Oldani said when asked about the prospect of protests in Italy stopping the race.

“It’s only right that everyone can demonstrate, but cycling is the only sport that has always shown an example; it has united rather than divided.”