Tadej Pogacar's compatriot Luka Mezgec on Olympic Games decision: "If he was as tired as he was on his deathbed, he would have come here if Urska were here"

Slovenia were meant to come into the Olympic Games with a team hoping to grab gold medals in the time-trial and road race but are currently anything but that. Tadej Pogacar's decision to skip the race was heavily influenced by the controversial non-selection of his fiancée Urska Zigart for the women's events and teammate Luka Mezgec is fully certain that if one were here the other would be too.

Pogacar stated fatigue was the main reason for his absence due to the Olympics, bringing up the example of last year where he struggled after doing the Tour de France and the World Championships right after. Having raced the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France this year, alongside the months of preparation, it is a completely valid justification. However it still is the Olympic Games, a race that happens every four years and one where he was a huge favourite after putting on an incredible display of form all throughout 2024.

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But most people argue that the absence of Urska Zigart was the final straw for Pogacar's absence. Although he was not too publicly vocal about it, it was evident his disappointment over the decision as the 27-year old had been the most successful Slovenian female rider of the season and reigning double national champion. Matej Mohoric will be the leader in the road race but has not recently shown his best form and leaves Slovenia with modest ambitions, despite being one of the few teams with four riders.

Luka Mezgec, one of the riders representing the country this Saturday, has talked to RTV Slovenia about this topic: “As for the official reason that he is tired, I believe it is not the most realistic. I know that even if he was as tired as he was on his deathbed, he would have come here if Urška were here, because he would not have been lying alone at home," the Team Jayco AlUla rider argues. "If there was a 1% chance that he would want to stay at home for any reason, that percentage would be much smaller if Urška were here. Wherever Urška is, Tadej is too".

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Matej Mohoric had previously argued that he tried to still convince Pogacar otherwise, but ultimately the decision of the UAE Team Emirates was to take time off after what could only be termed as the most successful months of any pro rider in modern cycling.

Mezgec argues that one way or another, the selection of Zigart would've been the logic one. “It may sound nasty, but maybe we should have risked one place for Urška, even if she had not been the best. That’s the way it is, but even if she wasn't, they should have secured Tadej with this move, but they didn't. Unfortunately, the decision-makers did not foresee all scenarios.”

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Lukáš Ronald Lukács

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Tadej Pogačar just on easy coffee ride today. 📷: Bakaro Villefranche

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