"She's what keeps him grounded. For her, he’s Tadej, not Pogacar the champion" – Super-agent Alex Carera on Urska Zigart's importance to UAE leader's success

In the quiet mountain backdrop of Andorra, far from the chaos of Grand Tours and finish-line fanfare, Alex Carera reflected on what truly drives cycling’s biggest star. The super-agent — who has guided Tadej Pogacar’s career since 2016 — believes the secret behind the Slovenian’s sustained dominance lies not in watts or winnings, but in balance. And at the heart of that balance stands Urska Zigart.

“He needs to be with whoever makes him feel good,” Carera told Marca. “Spending time with Urska in Monaco, watching a film or a series, or just staying at home — that’s what keeps him grounded. For her, he’s Tadej, not Pogacar the champion; and for him, she’s Urska, not Zigart the athlete. That normality protects them, it keeps them balanced.”

Pogacar’s 2025 season will go down among the greatest of the modern era — Tour de France victory, the world title in Kigali, European gold, multiple Monuments. Yet, according to Carera, it’s the human side of the 27-year-old that has remained untouched since his teenage years.

“He’s still the same boy I met in 2016,” Carera said. “Of course, now he has more responsibility — when you’re asked for a hundred photos, you can say yes a hundred times, but when it’s five thousand, it’s harder. Yet in his daily life, in the way he treats people, he’s still the same Tadej.”

That humility, Carera argues, is what underpins Pogacar’s longevity at the top. “If a rider’s happy, he performs better,” he explained. “If he maintains a strong bond with his teammates and his team, everything flows. At UAE, Tadej spends more time with them than with his own parents. That family spirit is what sustains his greatness.”

Carera has built a career managing some of the peloton’s biggest names, but few relationships have been as defining as his with Pogacar. Together they’ve navigated a period where cycling has evolved into something closer to football — with longer contracts, greater media demands and ever-intensifying scrutiny. Yet the agent insists Pogacar’s inner circle has shielded him from burnout.

“My job isn’t to make them earn more, it’s to make them happy,” Carera said. “Sometimes you have to accept earning a little less to live better. Having 50 or 51 million in the bank doesn’t change anything — what matters is being at peace with yourself.”

That philosophy extends to Pogacar’s off-season. While most see winter as a break, Carera views it as the foundation for everything that follows. “To have a great season, you need a great winter — train, rest, recover physically and mentally. Without that, there’s no miracle.”

For all that Pogacar has achieved, Carera insists his motivation remains unshaken. “The season ended very well, and he’s already thinking about 2026,” he revealed. “Every year needs new motivation, but always with balance. UAE Team Emirates understand that: there’ll be a first meeting in Abu Dhabi, then in Benidorm they’ll set out the calendar. The secret is to listen to everyone and maintain harmony between the champion’s hunger and the needs of such a big structure.”

And while others might speak of limits, Carera sees none. “He can win five Tours, three World Championships, the Vuelta, match Cavendish’s record in France, and the record of Monuments. Roubaix and Sanremo too — they’re harder, but with him everything’s possible. Finding another Pogacar will take 30 or 40 years.”

For Carera, who has seen countless riders rise and fall, Pogacar’s story stands apart not just for his victories, but for his authenticity. “Working with him is an honour,” he said softly. “Not just because he’s the best, but because behind the champion there’s an exceptional person. We try to make people’s dreams come true, to stay close to the fans. That’s what matters most.”

The true luxury, Carera says, is being able to stop — to breathe — and to protect the happiness of the man who once started dreaming in Slovenia.