Tadej Pogacar wins L'Équipe's sportsman of the year award - "I think it is not a glamorous sport"

For the second time in its history, a cyclist has won the 'Champion of Champions' award, one organized by the French newspaper L'Équipe. After Greg Lemond, Tadej Pogacar has taken the triumph in what is considered to be one of the most reputable awards in sports.

“Honestly, I would not put myself on that list. I cannot place myself that high. It was a very big season, but I do not feel that way. It is just my opinion," Pogacar said when talking to L'Équipe. However it would be hard to agree with the Slovenian on this case, taking into consideration his extremely successful year. He was also voted male cyclist of the year in our CyclingUpToDatw awards.

Winning the Tour de France, World Championships, European Championships, Tour of Flanders, Liège-Bastogne-Liége, Il Lombardia, Strade Bianche, Criterium du Dauphiné, UAE Tour and also finishing on the podium of Milano-Sanremo and Paris-Roubaix... Even for those who do not follow the sport closely, it is impossible to deny the Slovenian's influence in international sports this year.

A sport however which does not capture the attention of a majority of the population. “Cycling is very particular and not easy to follow or to practice. It is simpler to watch a tennis match than a race that lasts six hours. In our races, 23 teams line up together. That is one reason cycling is not valued properly and maybe not seen as classy as the NBA, tennis or golf".

The difference between many sports also makes it hard to gauge who is 'the best': “Football is also simpler because everyone talks about it and everyone can explain it. Cycling is different. It is tactically complex and it does not have the same visibility. It is a very humble sport. We do not have Formula One style superstars who attend prestige events every week. Riders go to races, then they want to go home and train. There is not much time for anything else. That is why I think it is not a glamorous sport."

This could be seen very recently with BBC. The British outlet has had its own sportsman of the year award with five athletes, Pogacar was not one of them. Here, Pogacar topped Swedish athlete Armand Duplantis by a close margin, whilst Tennis player Carlos Alcaraz finished a distant third.

"It is lovely to see children who love cycling, especially when they support me. I do not feel like a star. I am always struck when someone stops me in the street when I am in normal clothes or at a restaurant and asks for a photo with hands shaking," he admits. "Sometimes they do not even listen when you reply and only want the picture. I am not a big star. If I travel in Asia people might not recognize me. In Barcelona, Brussels or in Italy it is different. It depends where I am.”

Asked about Novak Djokovic, who won last year's award, he commented: “Novak wants to be the greatest ever. He never gives up and always wants to prove he is the best and that he can still be the best now. I know that one day everything will stop and I will want a normal life. I do not need to show all the time that I am the best. Sometimes it is nice to race without feeling that you must win. The sports are different and so are the mindsets.”