"In the national team there is no rivalry" – Tadej Pogacar chases double Rainbow in Rwanda as Primoz Roglic solely targets road race
Cycling
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.”
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Pogačar vs Evenepoel in the time trial
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.”
Pogacar won the Rainbow Jersey in 2024
Mohoric steps up, Tratnik absent
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.
A marked team in Kigali
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.”
Matej Mohoric will be alongside Pogacar in Rwanda
Two leaders, one goal
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.
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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- 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
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- 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
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
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