2024 has been a record breaking and history making year for Tadej Pogacar. As he and partner Urska Zigart recently returned to their homeland in Slovenia, the duo were given awards for their respective seasonal performances.
"I am not often in Slovenia. It's always a pleasure to come home and see family and friends. I love attending such events," said a delighted Pogacar to Slovenian broadcaster RTVSlo after having received the award. "So far, each season has been better than the last. I hope the next one will be even better. I look forward to new challenges. I like to test myself on the bike and enjoy nature. It's not hard to motivate yourself."
Pogacar's 2024 season has been well-documented by this point. A duo of Grand Tour victories, a multitude of stage successes, two monument wins, a World Championship title and much, much more. When pressed on plans for the upcoming season by Ekipa though, the Slovenian wasn't giving too much away. "I can't reveal much about the program yet, we'll talk about it in December or later," he explains. "We're quite flexible about my program. The UAE Tour is a suitable race to start with. This season's performance on two grand tours worked out well, and I think I will continue in a similar rhythm for a few more years."
For partner Zigart meanwhile, 2025 marks the start of a new challenge as the Slovenian departs Liv AlUla Jayco after four seasons, moving to the AG Insurance - Soudal Team. Despite being controversially left out of the Slovenian team for the Paris Olympic Games earlier in 2024, she continues to be a leading light on the women's side of the sport in Slovenia, with a move to the AG Insurance - Soudal Team having the potential to see her take the next step.