Is this Tadej Pogacar's key to constant development? "I can’t just sit at home on the couch and do nothing"

Tadej Pogacar is a special cyclist for many different reasons. However it is a combination of all of them that makes him stand apart from the rest. In a recent interview where he was more relaxed and open about details of his surrounding staff and lifestyle, it is possible to understand more about the Slovenian's mentality.

“I can’t just sit at home on the couch and do nothing. I love cycling and racing; I’ve been doing it since I was nine. Adrenaline is part of my lifestyle," Pogacar said in words to Gazzetta dello Sport. Pogacar is a rider that has a lot of passion for cycling and is known in the Monaco area to be a quality training partner with several riders who have had career rebirths in recent years due to the time spent with him. Tim Wellens and Michael Matthews for example who continue to perform at their top level well into their 30's.

"But there is one thing that motivates me more than anything else. Seeing how far I can push myself to improve. Training, racing, everything. Finding new ways to move forward, to stay on top. In short: remaining the best version of myself.”  

Effectively, Pogacar has succeeded in doing this, having his two best seasons to date and looking completely unstoppable in all races where climbs have a significant influence. In 2026 he will be aiming for Milano-Sanremo and Paris-Roubaix, two monuments he hasn't yet conquered, whilst then having the Tour de France and World Championships as big goals for the second half of the season, where he should be the man to beat for both if everything remains the same.

But in UAE the Slovenian is fully set, not only perfectly happy with his teammate and work conditions, but also the staff that surrounds him. “We speak to Javier (Sola, his coach, ed.) every day; he’s an incredible guide and we have a perfect connection." On the nutrition side he counts on Gorka Pireto, whom he also compliments dearly in this interview:

"As for Gorka, he’s one of the hardest-working people I’ve ever seen. He creates individual nutrition plans, all different, for 30 riders. The nutrition is almost perfect now. Until a few years ago, I found it difficult to stick to it, but now I understand how important it is. How much difference it can make in performance.”

He also believes he has the right balance at home, even though he hasn't followed the advice that was given to him at a younger age. "Indeed. My former coach [San Millán], for example, pointed out to me that footballers often have a private chef, someone who does the shopping, someone who takes care of the house... Well, that's not for me, for Urska (Zigart, his partner, ed.) and me."

"Sometimes it's not easy, with a messy house and suitcases everywhere, but we prefer to manage things ourselves," he admits. "I like to go to the supermarket and buy what I need myself. Or I clean the room, the windows. Or I just go for a walk. I'm not a superhero, I'm just a regular guy."