“I was not expecting these good legs to be back" - Tadej Pogacar pleasantly surprised by form in Canada as World Championships loom

Whilst he wasn't able to win on his return to racing in Quebec on Friday, Tadej Pogacar has been pleasantly by the form he showed. With another chance for victory in Montreal this Sunday, the Slovenian looks set to head to the World Championships in Zurich full of confidence.

“It’s really good. I was not expecting these good legs to be back. I am super happy with the shape and how I managed the first race after a bit of rest," says the UAE Team Emirates leader in quotes collected by Velo ahead of the GP Montreal. “So I think I am ready for Sunday and the world championships.”

After having a well earned rest following the Tour de France, Pogacar admitted ahead of his trip to North America that he was a little unsure about how he would perform on his return. Attacking and bright in the finale, before eventually finishing in 7th, Pogacar was happy with his efforts. “It was a really good race,” he said. “The team did a super good job. I wanted a hard final and we did it. We managed to do a really hard last couple of laps. I wasn’t sure of my last kilometre if I would attack or not. I made the wrong decision, waited for a sprint and I was boxed in.”

A big obstacle to Pogacar's plans for a longer attack in the finale was the presence of Lotto Dstny riders on his back wheel. “That is why I did not go for a longer attack. I looked back and there was still a gap with one K to go,” he explained. “With three guys from Lotto, I was thinking we will make it to the finish but the group was coming from behind really fast. I should have launched it from before and maybe I could stay away. But it is what it is. It was fun racing and I enjoyed it a lot.”