"I was riding for Urska's mother today" - Emotional Tadej Pogacar dedicates victory to partner's mother on anniversary of her passing
Cycling
Tadej Pogacar is inevitable. The Slovenian predicted he would attack on La Redoute pre-Liege-Bastogne-Liege and that is exactly what he did, powering to a 35km solo win on Sunday afternoon.
"It was a miserable day from the start but we kept pushing hard with the team, set a good pace to keep warm," Pogacar begins his post-race interview. "This was quite an emotional day for me. All day I was riding on the bike and thinking of Urska's (Urska Zigart, Pogacar partner ed.) mother, who died two years ago. I was riding for Urska's mother today and I'm really happy that I can win this beautiful race."
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As he touched upon there, his UAE Team Emirates team were on the front throughout, keeping the pace high but also keeping their leader out of trouble. Whilst the likes of Tom Pidcock and Mathieu van der Poel were slowed by a crash, Pogacar was able to avoid it completely. "Thanks to all the team for their amazing work. I couldn't have done it without them and yeah, I am full of emotion," he adds.
"Today I had it in my mind to be careful after what happened last year (crashed and broke his wrist ed.). I was more on the safe side this year and to be more warm also I had more layers on because it was super cold," he explains. "The team did a super job. Rode fast on the climbs, safe on the downhill and on La Redoute we did exactly what we said. From then on it was suffering to the finish."
"After these kind of long races, it's super special to come to the line solo. Also with the National Champion's jersey, it's beautiful," Pogacar concludes.
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Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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BusterBlader21-04-20244
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- This is a really interesting idea, which, if well prepared could even be very successful. Very little money needs to be involved for a first season and any success could lead to rapid interest from sponsors.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Hmmm, you seem to have a very convenient black and white view of things. Perhaps you haven’t been around much to discover how complex problems can become over time with people who know how to control, manipulate (or worse) others so gradually or subtly that you arrive at an irresolvable situation before you realise. This is how many inconveniences get introduced to the young, naïve, passionate or “desperate”, knowing they are not armed, protected or strong enough to defend themselves once it’s too late. Why do you think omerta culture is so widespread, why do you think so many people continue to go through so many awful things in life that others can’t understand anyone getting into? Life may be far more jolly for you but you would do well to understand (or reflect more on) the real world to refrain from being so quick to criticise those in a hard spot that may have genuine reason for speaking out.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
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- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
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- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
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Pogačar: "I was riding for Urška's mother"
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