"I still see cycling as a game" - Tadej Pogacar on what keeps him motivated; long-range attacks; 2020 Tour de France win over Roglic

Tadej Pogacar won L'Équipe's 'Champion of Champions' award to end the year 2025, beating Armand Duplantis on the voting. He spoke to the French news outlet after confirmation of the victory and has talked about his future in pro cycling, how he looks at the sport and why he races with such an aggressive stance in the current peloton.

“I still see cycling as a game. Everyone needs to do what they love. If you love something you should savour it. If you treat it like a game, I am sure it works better for you," Pogacar told L'Équipe. "It is different from ten years ago, but I still love this sport. It is part of my life, and I do not see myself doing anything else".

Ultimately, not many riders can actually say that. Pogacar's superior climbing ability, endurance and collective support from UAE Team Emirates - XRG is what makes it possible for the Slovenian to execute and often succeed with tactics that would not likely work with any other rider. However, it makes for a very different kind of racing then what was seen in the previous decade.

“Why do I attack from so far out? Because that’s how I win,” Pogačar said. “If I wait for a sprint I am not sure I will win. I am lucky to sense the moment to go alone. Sometimes it works and I win, sometimes it does not and I lose".

At the time being he is still 27 years old and has conquered most of what there was to achieve in pro cycling. But there are still clear goals in races such as Milano-Sanremo and Paris-Roubaix which would have him complete the list of monuments in his palmarés. It would also be possible to see the Slovenian continue to compete in hopes of reaching the victory in 20 monuments throughout his career, which would have him overtake Eddy Merckx as the record holder (Pogacar currently has 10, but has won 3 this year).

In addition he is yet to win the Vuelta a España, which would grant him a place amongst the winners of all Grand Tours. Whilst not widely discussed, he currently has 21 stage wins at the Tour de France, and at his current pace of winning, the 35-victory record of Mark Cavendish may be within sight in a few years.

“There is always room to improve and to see how far I can go. It is not hard to motivate myself, even more so with a long contract until 2030 with UAE Emirates XRG and many years ahead," he adds. At least five more seasons in the peloton, even if his domination begins to fade, is still enough time to conquer plenty more races. "When results are good the motivation comes easily. It is harder when you do not win much or at all.”

He enjoys what he does as well, managing to win like no other rider, and racing in a way that is fun to him. “I think about whatever can make me win. I manage my energy. I check the gaps. I anticipate what is coming. It is not a stroll.” He was also lastly asked about his first Tour de France win, which came in 2020 after he dethroned his compatriot Primoz Roglic on the Planche des Belles Filles.

He gave an interesting response: “What if I had lost the 2020 Tour at La Planche des Belles Filles? Maybe things would be a bit different,” Pogačar said. “There might have been less pressure afterwards. It was great to win then because it gave a huge boost to my career. Without that victory my career would not have been the same.”