"He still has so many races left" - UAE DS reassures that Pogacar doesn't lack the drive to chase new victories in 2027
Cycling
Tadej Pogacar has been sidelined since his Vuelta a Espana crash one month ago. With severe injuries, the Slovenian had to accept a forced break without racing, which means he has to sit out all of his target races this autumn. And that's despite an encouraging progress in his recovery over the recent weeks.
Just on the eve of last week's World Championships road race, Pogacar made his first outing on a bicycle since his crash. This was the most positive news regarding his path back into the saddle we could receive. However speculations as to whether he'd attempt to compete at the European Championships in his home Slovenia were quickly shut down by his team boss Mauro Gianetti.
Sports director at UAE Team Emirates - XRG, Joxean Matxín further emphasizes that although Pogacar has completed some important steps towards his return, competition is out of question. "He's doing better, he rides his bike and feels good, but all without doing any work or loads," he tells quibicisport.
Matxín further confirms that the Slovenian already his sights set on 2027 season. That means no home European Championships this weekend, nor a shot at sixth consecutive Il Lombardia crown one week later.
Not lacking the drive
Next to his tremendous physical qualities in the saddle, Pogacar's biggest strength might be his drive. The Slovenian never goes far for a goal to pursue, and this is certain to help speed up his recovery.
Is there anything particular that the Slovenian wishes to achieve in the future?
"There are so many," Matxín replies. "Races he hasn't won, races he has won but wants to repeat. He still has so many races left that give us the motivation and drive to ride them."
As for a more near future, are there any particular races Pogacar would like to add to his calendar in 2027?
"We've talked about something, but we'll talk more about it at the first training camp in October. Next year's calendar came out on Tuesday, so we only have a clearer idea now." Matxín concludes, leaving fans room to speculate as to what Pogacar's goals in 2027 might be.
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In any case, we could see the Slovenian return to the saddle sooner than usual after he was forced to take a break for the last month and half of the 2026 campaign.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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