ANALYSIS: Can Tadej Pogacar or Primoz Roglic win the World Championships?
CyclingTuesday, 17 September 2024 at 14:30
Slovenia’s dominance of the 2024 Grand Tour season, with
Tadej Pogacar and Primoz Roglic combining to win all three tours, is a
testament to the nation's current cycling prowess. Now, these two titans of the
sport are teaming up for the UCI World Championships in Zurich, where a
climber-friendly course awaits.
This will mark the first time since 2021 that Pogacar and
Roglic ride together in an international event, and the Slovenian team will
enter the competition as one of the favourites to claim the coveted rainbow
jersey.
A Perfect Route for Climbers
The World Championships Road race in Zurich will be one of
the most challenging in recent memory. The route features 4,200 meters of
climbing over a gruelling distance, making it one of the best courses for
climbers. For Pogacar and Roglic, this presents an ideal opportunity to finally
claim the world title that has so far eluded both of them.
While both have proven themselves capable on the Grand Tour
stage, neither has won a World Championship title, despite their generational
talent. Pogacar, a three time Tour de France champion, and Roglic, fresh off
his fourth Vuelta a España victory, have often been among the top contenders
but have always fallen short in the rainbow jersey race. In Zurich, they’ll be
among the main favourites once again, alongside powerhouse riders like Remco
Evenepoel and Mathieu van der Poel.
Slovenia will also field a strong team to back up their star
duo. Matej Mohoric, who has had a stellar season, is a dangerous wildcard and
could play a key role in supporting Pogacar and Roglic. Jan Tratnik, who has
shown himself to be a versatile rider, will also be vital for Slovenia’s
ambitions. Three more riders—Domen Novak, Luka Mezgec, and Matevz Govekar—will
provide the necessary support to ensure that Slovenia has the depth and
tactical flexibility to succeed on race day.
With such a well-rounded team, Slovenia will be hard to
beat. But, as history has shown, World Championship races are notoriously
difficult to control, especially on a course as demanding as this one.
This isn’t the first time Pogacar and Roglic have joined
forces at the World Championships. The two Slovenian superstars rode together
in both the 2020 and 2021 editions of the race, though without the success they
would have hoped for. A look back at those races reveals how challenging it is
to translate individual talent into team success on the global stage.
In 2020, the World Championships in Imola, Italy, featured a
hilly course, but it was not enough to shake off the punchy riders. Pogacar and
Roglic were key figures in Slovenia’s squad but found themselves up against Julian
Alaphilippe on incredible form, who ultimately claimed the victory with a
perfectly timed solo attack. The race highlighted the difficulty of
coordinating tactics in a chaotic and unpredictable race, even with two of the
world’s best riders on the same team.
In 2021, the World Championships in Flanders presented a
different challenge. The route was more suited to riders with strong sprinting
and punchy climbing abilities, and while Pogacar and Roglic both showed signs
of strength, the race once again came down to an inform Julian Alaphilippe, who
successfully defended his title. Slovenia’s star duo couldn’t keep pace in the
final phases, and they left empty-handed once again.
Since that 2021 race, Roglic has not competed at the World
Championships. He has opted to focus on other goals, leaving Pogacar as
Slovenia’s key figure on the international stage. Last year in Glasgow, Pogacar
delivered his best-ever performance at a World Championship, securing a bronze
medal behind Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert. That race, held on a
punchy course that favoured heavier riders, wasn’t ideally suited to Pogacar’s
climbing strengths, but he still managed to shine, proving his versatility.
This year’s race in Zurich, however, is perfectly tailored
for the Slovenian climbers. With more than 4,000 meters of climbing, Pogacar
and Roglic will both be in their element, and this may well be their best
chance yet to claim the rainbow jersey.
Who Will Lead Slovenia?
While most assume that Pogacar will be Slovenia’s leader,
given his status as one of the sport’s brightest stars, Roglic cannot be
discounted. The 34-year-old is still in imperious form, having just won his
fourth Vuelta a España title earlier this month. If Pogacar falters—whether due
to poor form or an unfortunate incident—Roglic is more than capable of taking
over leadership duties for Slovenia. The dynamic between the two riders will be
fascinating to watch, and how Slovenia manages its tactics will be crucial in
determining their success.
The World Championships, unlike a Grand Tour, is a one-day
race, and anything can happen. Pogacar’s explosive climbing abilities make him
the natural favourite, but Roglic’s experience and consistency make him a
strong backup option, and perhaps even a surprise leader if the situation calls
for it.
The Competition
Despite Slovenia’s strength, they will not have it easy.
Riders like Remco Evenepoel, the reigning world champion, and Mathieu van der
Poel, one of the most versatile cyclists in the peloton, will pose serious
threats. Evenepoel, with his ability to attack from distance and solo to
victory, will be particularly dangerous, while van der Poel’s relentless racing
style and punchy climbing ability make him a constant contender.
Wout van Aert would have been one of the favourites for glory
in Zurich, had it not been for his crash at the Vuelta that saw him abandon the
race, whilst leading the points and mountains classifications. Still, with such
strong competition, Pogacar and Roglic will need to be at their very best to
secure victory.
Slovenia heads into the 2024 UCI World Championships in
Zurich with high hopes, and rightly so. Tadej Pogacar and Primoz Roglic, two of
the sport’s greatest climbers, will find the mountainous course perfectly
suited to their strengths. Backed by a strong team and riding on the momentum
of their Grand Tour successes, Slovenia will be the team to watch.
However, the unpredictability of the World Championships
means that nothing is guaranteed. Whether it’s Pogacar’s explosive climbing or
Roglic’s tactical nous that carries Slovenia to victory, this year may finally
see the nation claim its first-ever rainbow jersey.
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MvdP is the current world champion, not Remco.
Pogacar is the favourite but won't be surprised necessarily if evenepoel does some serious damage of takes the win, this course is made for climbers but doesn't feature any long climbs. Should be an amazing WC
Is this the dumbest headline ever? Of course they can. How is this even an article . . .
At first it would seem so but when you think further…
The most commented article in a while, which for several reasons is what the point of « articles « is these days for many outlets.
I believe that at this point it'll be considered a major failure and a big surprise if Tadej Pogacar doesn't win the worlds.
"The route features 4,200 meters of climbing over a gruelling distance, making it one of the best courses for climbers."
I disagree. If MvdP is top 5 favourite then it's definitely NOT a climber's course
Read more carefully, big difference between one of the best (that can be expected) and a climbers course.
Nobody would propose a real climbers course for a WC, it would create outrage and half the names wouldn’t turn up.
Also, LBL is kind of considered a climber’s race and he was 3rd not far off so calling him a top 5 favourite seems completely ok for me, only takes one or two guys to underperform and Bob’s your uncle.