Tadej Pogacar returns to ‘racing’ with win in Monaco: “We’re moving in the right direction”
Cycling
Tadej Pogacar has returned to racing by wining the Beking 4th edition, an exhibition criterium in Monaco, on Sunday afternoon. The triple crown winner raced to victory of the 20 lap race, ahead of Mads Pedersen and Michael Matthews who joined the Sloevnian on the podium.
Pogacar, of UAE Team Emirates, had a truly sensational 2024, winning the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France, the world championships, as well as two monuments to top thigs off. This was the first time fans had got to see him in action, since his stunning solo win at Il Lombardia last month. Speaking after the race, Pogacar was very happy to have picked up yet another win.
“Beking is really a fantastic event and I’m always happy to take part every year,” he told reporters. “Even though the weather wasn’t ideal, the race was still fun. I’m especially happy to have won here because we don’t race in Monaco very often.
“It’s always a special experience. I’m grateful to Matteo and the whole team for continuing to organise this event for such an important cause. It’s inspiring to see so many people out in the rain showing their support and helping to spread the message. The event has grown year on year and it’s exciting to see so many children taking part.
“ This is crucial for the future of the sport, for sustainability and for the values that Beking stands for. I’ve also seen an increase in the number of people using bikes in general, which is definitely a positive sign that we’re moving in the right direction.”
The Beking event is organised by former European champion Matteo Trentin, who wishes to prevent cycling at all levels and to maximise more participation in the sport. This years edition was particularly special, due to the presence of 2024’s pink jersey, yellow jersey, and rainbow jersey winner.
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- yeah, that’s a more fair assessment. “reaching mathieu’s level” doesn’t mean you’re planning to replicate his whole career. the former IS doable, potentially. it’s just the latter that likely is not.OCexile25-12-2024
- That’s not entirely true. Every person follows their own development path and peaks differently. Remco and Primoz had hardly started cycling before elite level. Jonas was pretty much under the radzr until he unexpectedly had to take over responsibility at JV. Some guys only get real good in their thirties others have peaked mid-twenties. You can’t tell in advance how and upto what level they will progress, obviously his career might not have MVDPs length but nothing says he could not end up doing a few seasons at his level.Mistermaumau25-12-2024
- well, del grosso is 21 right now. when mathieu was a year younger than that, he was already winning elite level world championships, not U23. i think del grosso will be a very good pro for years, but if he was really going to be the next van der poel someday, he’d already have to be at that level right NOW. van der poel was showing signs of true greatness when he was 15-16. THAT’S what generational talent looks like.OCexile25-12-2024
- Yeah.... gear 😅.mikolajjj24-12-2024
- It shouldn’t be about expectations in the first place should it? Besides, if you look at everyone’s calculations as a whole they don’t add up in the first place. There’ll be 2-3 riders with a 50% chance, a dozen with 10 or 20% and dozens more with a 5% so we’re expecting at least 2 if not 3 winners. Remind me again who won before her? Says it all about using data to decide on participation.Mistermaumau24-12-2024
- Ok, happy I’m not too interested in this team coz’ the account of what happened is really hard to follow.Mistermaumau24-12-2024
- The UCI is worse than USA CyclingVeganpotter24-12-2024
- It's not like they wanted her to not win😅 She had an outstanding Olympics. But there's a reason why she wasn't expected to win the road race and that's ok. Things like this happen and it's great...better than seeing expected winners win.Veganpotter24-12-2024
- Bruyneel ? The man with a lifetime ban from cycling...why do you keep giving him and his doper mate, Armstrong, a platform?DJ24-12-2024
- yeah, agree. on the subject of being a “complete rider,” i do think that’s getting more interesting. mathieu seems to have decided he wants to get much better at climbing the the high mountain passes. he appears to be looking for new challenges, which should be interesting to watch. in most cases you’d dismiss a goal like that at age 30, but it’s mvdp. he’s never going to climb with the real climbers, but if he can improve enough it could open up stage wins when the parcours isnt just purely toothy and punchy.OCexile24-12-2024