'Tadej wanted to ride at all costs' - Gianetti on Pogacar's 'reluctant' Euros decision

Murmurs of Tadej Pogačar’s desire to ride the European Championships on home roads amplified to dominate the news cycle last week, with the Slovenian seemingly at odds with his UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad over his participation.

The defending champion was ultimately not named in the Slovenian squad, with coach Uroš Murn confirming that the rider himself had opted against racing as he continued his recovery from his crash at the Vuelta a España. Pogačar later smilingly conceded that his form was “very bad,” joking that he was glad not to be racing after all.

Speaking to Domestique in Varese on Tuesday, UAE Team Emirates-XRG CEO Mauro Gianetti confirmed that Pogačar had expressed an initial desire to ride the European Championships before adhering to medical advice not to line up.

“It was only natural that Tadej wanted to ride the European Championships,” Gianetti said. “It was a unique opportunity, and the event was essentially organised in his honour, so not to be able to participate was a real shame for him.

“He would have liked to have participated, but our medical staff had to take a rational decision. It wasn’t logical to take such a big risk. Maybe nothing would have happened, but if something did happen, it would have been serious.”

Pogačar suffered a broken collarbone, a cervical fracture and a concussion when he crashed out of the Vuelta in the red jersey on August 29. UAE announced that Pogačar’s season was over after he underwent surgery in Barcelona two days. 

That meant Pogačar was unable to chase a third successive rainbow jersey at the World Championships in Montreal, but when he returned to training on the road on the eve of the race, it sparked rumours that he might line out in Slovenia after all. 

Gianetti acknowledged that Pogačar’s desire to defy the odds was real, but he insisted there was never any tension within UAE over the decision not to race. 

“It’s nice to know that a rider like him has so much respect for his people, his nation and the people who had organised the race. He wanted to ride at all costs, and that does him a lot of credit,” Gianetti said. 

“But on the other hand, you have to respect the reality of the facts, and he accepted not to race, albeit reluctantly. So reason and logic meant he had to say no to taking part.

“I think it was a really good thing that he wanted to ride so much. But then we discussed it, and he understood that he had an important responsibility.”

Pogačar’s eventual absence from the European Championships start list confirmed that his 2026 season is over. Inevitably with Pogačar, there is already speculation about when he might race next, including whispers that he could start the new campaign as early as January’s Tour Down Under. 

The final Monument of the 2026 season will take place without him, however, and Isaac del Toro and new world champion Brandon McNulty will lead UAE at Il Lombardia on Saturday.