"In the national team there is no rivalry" – Tadej Pogacar chases double Rainbow in Rwanda as Primoz Roglic solely targets road race

Slovenia head to the 2025 Road World Championships in Kigali with Tadej Pogacar aiming to extend his reign in the rainbow jersey — not just on the road, but against the clock as well. Yet while the world number one pursues a rare double, team-mate Primoz Roglic has made it clear his focus will be exclusively on the road race.

One of the national coaches Uroš Murn has moved to cool speculation about potential tension between Slovenia’s two biggest stars. “In the national team there is no rivalry,” he insisted in conversation with the Slovenian media ahead of the trip to Rwanda. “We know our collective chances, and we know the individual possibilities. Everyone adapts to that.”

The 40.6 km test, featuring 680 metres of climbing, is tailor-made for Pogacar. Murn predicts a showdown with Remco Evenepoel: “When Tadej saw the course, he immediately knew he had a chance of winning. Remco is the specialist on flat routes, but when the road rises, Tadej will be right there. The profile is made for him, and he will be very competitive.”

Roglic, however, will not feature in the time trial. “Quite simply, he ran out of time to prepare,” Murn explained. “After the Tour he needed a longer break. He chose to focus entirely on the road race, which is why he went to altitude camp before travelling directly to Rwanda.”

Jan Tratnik, one of Pogacar’s key lieutenants during last year’s epic 100 km attack in Zürich, misses out as he continues his recovery from a disrupted season. “Jan is still on his way back after the Giro and is not yet at one hundred per cent. He himself decided not to take the risk,” Murn said. “We also had to respect his club programme. Since the Giro he hasn’t raced for his team, so he preferred to focus on coming back fully.”

His role will be filled by Matej Mohoric and Gal Glivar. For Mohoric, back in form after injury ruled him out of last year’s Worlds, there is a chance to make a decisive impact. Fifth place in Quebec underlined his readiness.

The road race route — nearly 280 km with the decisive ascents of Mont Kigali and technical city circuits — is expected to produce a selective battle. “The course outside the finishing circuits is where the race will break,” said Murn. “At 150 km we climb Mont Kigali, up to 1,800 metres above sea level, and on the way back there are two steep sections, one even on cobbles. That’s where I expect the decisive moves.”

Logistics will also be very different from Zürich last year. “In Rwanda they don’t have the kind of team buses or motorhomes we’re used to in Europe. We’ll rent a smaller bus — everyone is in the same situation, and we’ll adapt.”

As defending champions, Slovenia know they will be heavily marked. “There will be no hiding for us,” Murn admitted. “All the national teams will be attacking only us. Our first goal is to repeat last year’s success. Everything else will just be a bonus — we mustn’t be greedy. This year will be harder than last year, because everyone expects us to defend the jersey.”

For Murn, the Pogacar-Roglic dynamic is a strength rather than a problem. “Both are world-class riders. When we are in the national team, there is no rivalry. We know what our options are, and as a team we adapt to that.”

Slovenia may arrive in Rwanda as the hunted, but with Pogacar’s double ambition, Roglic’s single-minded focus and Mohoric’s return, they remain one of the most formidable squads on the start line.