Tadej Pogacar expected to travel to Montreal World Championships - But not to race as he recovers from surgery and crash injuries
Cycling
Tadej Pogacar could well be in Montreal after all, but not to race the World Championships. The Slovenian is expected to fly to Canada to attend the championships and provide support to the Slovenia camp.
The two-in-a-row world champion and reigning Tour de France winner crashed out of the Vuelta a Espana at the end of the first week, suffering season-ending injuries such as a concussion, broken C7 vertebrae and undergoing surgery for a broken collarbone. In a blow to his remaining 2026 ambitions, the rider has confirmed he won't return until 2027.
Initially, it was speculated whether he could return for the World Championships, beginning next weekend, before that was ruled out. Now, Slovenian coach Uroš Murn expects Pogacar to be present in Montreal.
He confirmed to POP TV that he expects the UAE leader to travel to Montreal despite being ruled out of the race in what is hoped can boost the Slovenia camp. Pogacar's partner Urška Žigart is scheduled to race the elite women's race.
Tadej Pogacar reappears after his La Vuelta crash
Pogacar's absence changes Slovenia's plans
The Slovenian coach admitted Pogacar's withdrawal forced a considerable reshuffle in the final weeks before the championships.
“After Tadej's injury there was quite a scramble in terms of making adjustments. If Omrzel is not in Canada, nobody will travel in his place because Domen Novak will be racing in Croatia with his team.
"We do not really need any other riders we could call up given the changed dynamics of the race. In recent years we had to control the race, now we will leave that to others.”
Roglic could feature more prominently
Pogacar's absence puts more focus on Primoz Roglic, who in the heat of general classification battle at the Vuelta a Espana. He provides Slovenia an in-form alternative after losing the rider around whom their original World Championships plans had been constructed.
“The climbs in the race suit him, while technically the course is not that demanding because the roads are wide,” he said.
“Positioning in the group will be very important, so that we can protect him at the front and make sure he has the support he needs.”
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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