Tadej Pogacar has barely tasted defeat in 2024 and 7th place from today's GP Quebec is by far his worst final result. Yet the Slovenian didn't leave a bad impression and the result was probably more a result of numb racing instincts after nearly two-month break.
"It was a really good race, the team did a super good job, I wanted the hard final and we did it," said Pogacar about his racing return. "We managed to do a really hard last couple of laps but I was not sure of my last kilometre if I would attack or not, but I made the wrong decision, waited for the sprint and I was boxed in. But I'm super happy to be back, the legs were turning good and I cannot wait for Sunday," said the Slovenian.
Taking a break after over 50 race days racked up by July seems to have been a legit choice by the UAE Team Emirates rider. "I was not expecting this good legs to be back so I'm super happy with the shape and how I managed the first race after a bit of a rest. So I think I'm ready for Sunday and World Championships now."
After his attack, Pogacar seemed convinced that the group he created would be able to keep the peloton away. "For sure, that's why I did not go for a longer attack because I looked back and there was still a gap with 1km to go," admitted Pogacar. "Three guys from Lotto, I was thinking we would make it to the finish but the group was coming from behind really fast and I should have launched it before."
But he was quick to move on from missing out, simply relishing the opportunity to race again after over 50 days without pinning on a race number. "Maybe I could stay away but it is what it is, it was really fun racing and I enjoyed it a lot," Pogacar concluded.
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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