Tadej Pogacar is looking forward to the Italian Classics: "This time of the year is among my favorite"
Cycling
After his world championship title, Tadej Pogacar faces the final stretch of his season. The Slovenian UAE Team Emirates rider is already in Italy to race three of the transalpine autumn classics. This Saturday, October 5, he will race the Giro dell'Emilia, which he has never won, although he finished second in 2022 and 2023.
Two years ago, he was beaten by Enric Mas by 11 seconds, while last season, Primoz Roglic was stronger and faster in the final sprint.
"This period of the year is always one of my favorites to race and it will be even more special now that I'm wearing the world champion's jersey. What happened in Zurich was a dream for me. What happens from now on will be a plus, but given the incredible season we've had as a team, we want to push hard until the last race and finish on a high note. These year-end classics in Italy are beautiful and exciting races. We are ready to give our best."
He will then head to the Tre Valli Varesine, which will take place next Tuesday 8. He already won this race in 2022, taking a bunch sprint with Sergio Higuita and Alejandro Valverde, who joined him on the podium, among others.
Finally, he will face Il Lombardia, the last monument of the year, where he has already triumphed in the last three editions. On the 12th he will have the opportunity to equal Alfredo Binda with four victories, as well as being able to match Fausto Coppi, doing it consecutively. He would leave behind Henri Pélissier, Constante Girardengo, Gaetano Belloni, Gino Bartali, Sean Kelly and Damiano Cunego, and would be one behind the legendary Coppi's five.
How many races will Tadej Pogacar be able to win in his debut in the rainbow jersey? Will he win all 3? Will he do a double like in 2022? Will he only manage 1? Will he disappoint and draw a blank? We will soon find out.
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Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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