Tadej Pogacar has no regrets over Olympic snub: "It was a perfect season this year and I don't think I could have improved it"

The Giro d'Italia, the Tour de France, two monument victories and of course, the incredible Rainbow Jersey win in Zurich, it's fair to say there wasn't much missing from Tadej Pogacar's season in 2024. One of those races that the Slovenian did pass up the chance to take victory in though, was the Olympic Games in Paris.

At the time, it was widely reported that Pogacar's decision to snub the fight for gold was based somewhat on the controversial decision of the Slovenian selectors not to pick the UAE Team Emirates leader's partner, Urska Zigart for the women's race. Although Pogacar himself has since refuted such speculation, insisting that fatigue following his historic Giro d'Italia - Tour de France double was the main reason to skip Paris, feelings remain of 'what could have been' had the Slovenian been present to rival the double Olympic champion, Remco Evenepoel in the French capital this summer.

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Speaking to Tutto Bici Web from the E-Sports World Championships in Dubai however, Pogacar insisted that his Olympic snub is not something that still holds weight in his mind. "I don't regret this choice," the 26-year-old reiterates once again when asked. "It was a perfect season this year and I don't think I could have improved it , but rather only worsened it."

Having had such a successful 2024, there is now much expectation on Pogacar's shoulders heading into 2025. Can he possibly improve even further? "Talking about a calendar now seems too early," he says coolly. "I want to do some Classics in Flanders, the Tour de France and then the World Championships and some Monuments and the Sanremo of course. We'll see what else I can do, of course also some week-long races. I like all the World Tour races and some of the lower category, but I can't do them all."

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Big contracts for the big guns 🔒 Tadej Pogačar has become the latest marquee rider to sign a long-term contract. 📸 Getty Images

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