Tadej Pogacar returns to racing and aims for victories at national championships: "It's good preparation and a great test to check my feelings before the Tour"

After a year of break, Tadej Pogacar returns to the national championships. Ahead of the Tour de France the Slovenian is looking to race and win on home roads after having to have abandoned the plans of racing the Tour of Slovenia.

"The national championship will be good training for me. The time trial course is very good, it's the same as in 2020," Pogacar admitted to Siol. "It's good preparation and a great test to check my feelings before the Tour. I'll do the road race on Sunday to put some speed in my legs just before the Tour. I think the national championship will be a very good indicator of what I can expect at the Tour in terms of of stopwatch. I'll have a better idea of my form in the time trial."

After three weeks of training which included a lot of time at altitude and a few days exploring some of the stages the riders will find at the Tour de France, Pogacar has decided that the best way to end his preparation for the Tour would be with some racing. Due to the lack of time training - because of his wrist injury - he's had to forego plans of being present in stage-races as all of his rivals did this June, but has found a solution in Slovenia.

Without the presence of Primoz Roglic, Pogacar should be the overwhelming favourite to win both events, particularly this afternoon's time-trial. He could go into the Tour de France with new colours on his back after this weekend where he'll test his form.