Tadej Pogacar ahead of season debut as Jaen Paraiso Interior: "I feel the adrenaline and passion flowing through my veins"

Tadej Pogacar has been keen on changing things into his 2023 season, and his first race of the year will be today at the Clasica Jaén Paraiso Interior. The UAE Team Emirates leader describes excitement after a long winter, aswell as talking about his current form.

"When a new cycling year starts, I feel better than a first day of school," Pogacar said in an interview with Gazzetta della Sport. "I like cycling the most. I'm doing well after my illness. I'm ready to race and can't wait to get started. I feel the adrenaline and passion flowing through my veins and that's a nice feeling."

The 24-year old has ended his season with a triumph at Il Lombardia, and has enjoyed his time over the winter with a trip to Colombia, as well as the Middle East where he had media camps with the team. It will be a long spring for him to perform, and Pogacar is still a bit in the unknown on where he stands.

"I don't know, because I don't have a crystal ball. Maybe we won't see the best of me until later," he responds. "I hope so because my first goal is always to do better than the year before. I will continue to cherish that attitude, because every race is a game for me and I always want to win. I will always try to be the strongest, even if the form is not excellent."

After the Spanish classic he will race the Vuelta a Andalucia, opting for a start of the season in Europe. His first big goal of the season will be at Strade Bianche where he will attempt to defend his title, and today he will have perhaps the best preparation he could imagine for the Italian race.

However, the day after Strade Bianche, Pogacar is set to travel to France. According to L'Équipe the French race has already given the green light that the UAE Team Emirates rider will take part in the 'Race to the Sun' where he will face Jonas Vingegaard.

That will come as preparation at the same time though for the rest of the spring, to which the Slovenian concluded: "Spring revolves around Milan-Sanremo, the Tour of Flanders and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Milan-Sanremo is perhaps the most difficult to win. I go there primarily to have fun."