Pogacar wins hometown criterium as Vuelta decision looms on Monday
Tadej Pogacar won his hometown criterium in Komenda after confirming that he will announce on Monday whether he will ride this year’s Vuelta a España.
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Speaking ahead of the race, the 27-year-old stopped short of committing to the Spanish Grand Tour, just days after securing a record fifth Tour de France title.
Asked whether he would travel to Spain in pursuit of the red jersey, Pogačar responded with a smile.
“What do they collect there? Little bulls? Maybe. We will see. We will see on Monday,” Pogacar said in quotes collected by RTVSLO.
Victory at the Vuelta would complete Pogačar’s collection of Grand Tour titles. The Slovenian has won the Tour five times and also has a Giro d’Italia title to his name, leaving the Spanish race as the only one of cycling’s three week events he has yet to win.
Any decision will depend on how well he recovers from another demanding Tour campaign. Pogačar admitted that returning to normal life after two months of preparation and racing takes time.
“You somehow have to switch off, reset and give yourself at least a week after the Tour before you truly recover and return to reality,” he said.
“You spend a month in France, racing and living entirely inside that bubble. Before that, you also spend a month at a training camp. It all adds up, and when you finally return home, it can be quite a shock.”
The days immediately after the Tour can bring sharp changes in mood and energy, he added.
“Sometimes I would lock myself away on a Saturday and avoid all company. At other times, I feel exactly the opposite.”
Home victory opens Pogi Challenge
Despite still feeling the effects of the Tour, Pogačar had enough left to win in front of his home crowd, beating former teammate Matteo Trentin of Tudor in the sprint in Komenda.
The Slovenian had attracted a strong field featuring several riders from the Tour de France peloton. Third placed finisher Isaac del Toro was joined by UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammates Tim Wellens and Felix Großschartner, who both played an important role in Pogačar’s fifth Tour victory.
Filippo Ganna of Netcompany-Ineos, Davide Piganzoli of Visma | Lease a Bike, Marco Haller of Tudor, Pascal Ackermann of Jayco AlUla and Matej Mohorič of Bahrain Victorious were also among the Tour riders on the start list.
The criterium formed part of the three day Pogi Challenge in and around Pogačar’s hometown.
Sunday’s main event will bring the Pogi Challenge to a close, with Pogačar setting off in pursuit of 1,177 amateur riders on the climb to Krvavec. The participants will start ahead of the five time Tour winner and try to reach the summit before he catches them.
A legacy beyond results
Pogačar has already built a career defined by Tour de France titles, World Championships and victories in cycling’s Monuments. However, he said sporting results are not the only legacy that matters to him.
Asked how he would like to be remembered if his career ended today, Pogačar said he hoped people would look beyond his list of victories.
“Everyone will remember the Tours, the World Championships and the Monuments anyway,” he said.
“But I think every athlete wants to reach the end of their career and be seen as a good sportsperson and a good human being, someone with a good soul.”
Whether the next chapter begins at the Vuelta will become clear on Monday.
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