"It was the toughest moment of the year" - Tadej Pogacar describes the injury that had him worry about his Tour de France win

• I’ve managed to go beyond my dreams. I’ve set my goals higher than I ever imagined. I’m very happy and very proud of what I’ve achieved.
• I don’t like comparing myself to anyone. I think every rider is unique.
• Time goes by very fast. I try to enjoy every day and keep my motivation, because a racing career doesn’t last as long as it seems.

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Preparation and training in Gran Canaria

• I wanted to explore the island and get back to stacking hard training hours. The goal was to rebuild my base and discover new roads. It was a very positive experience, with good training groups. It’s a true paradise for season prep and I think I’ll be back.
• You could easily design three or four very good stages in Gran Canaria. There’s toughness and the conditions to see great racing.

Rest and holidays

• Holidays are when I don’t think about the bike. I had some downtime, fun activities, and I’ve recharged the batteries.
• I like enjoying a good dinner, meeting friends and being at the beach. Normal plans that help me switch off.

Tadej Pogacar blew Jonas Vingegaard away at the 2025 Tour de France.

Tour de France and season objectives

• The goal is to return to the Tour, try to win again and fight the best riders in the world. It will be one of my main targets.
• The route is very interesting and very hard. Starting in Barcelona will be great, and the rest is similar to other editions, with demanding stages and interesting challenges. I’m really looking forward to it.

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Injury and Tour 2025

• It was the toughest moment of the year. The injury was small, more annoying and worrying than painful. Luckily I managed it and raced the way I wanted. I would’ve loved to win another stage in the Alps, but it wasn’t possible. Even so, I’m happy with how everything went.
• The season was very close to a 10.

Classics and unfinished business in Grand Tours

• Winning Sanremo, Roubaix and delivering my best at the Vuelta a España is a big challenge in my career. We’ll see what the future has in store for me.
• It’s always hard to combine La Vuelta with the rest of the calendar, but I’ll return one day and I’ll be very motivated when that time comes.

Worlds

• The Worlds is a very special race. I’ve been lucky to win it twice, and in 2026, in Montreal, it will be a major target to try to claim the title again.

Motivation and competitive pressure

• It’s not harder to get motivated, it’s different. There’s more pressure and expectation. I try to maintain the level and show I can do it again.
• The rivals and teams are very strong. Everyone tries to improve each year, and you always have to fight to grow a bit more.

Rivals and the current landscape

• Evenepoel has the qualities to perform very well at Sanremo or Roubaix. He would be an extra opponent and hard to beat if he’s there.
• Sport is very important in Slovenia. There aren’t many of us in the WorldTour, but those who are there are really good.

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