"The public expects a lot": Pogacar's successor has a lot of work ahead of himself to live up to predictions
Cycling
The 2026 season is about to begin. It will be a key year as a new three-year cycle also starts. But there will be much to watch beyond the relegation fight. One rider drawing big expectations is Jakob Omrzel. The Slovenian, at just 19, won his country’s Elite National Championships, and the comparisons with Tadej Pogacar were inevitable.
All the more so as Omrzel, who will ride for Bahrain Victorious’s first team after stepping up from the development squad, also secured the GC at the Giro Next Gen, the under-23 version of Corsa Rosa. A Slovenian who wins a U23 Grand Tour, with a huge engine and a steel-trap mentality. The script sounds familiar.
In 2025, Jakob Omrzel made it clear he belongs to the sport’s future elite and, hearing him speak, it’s easy to see why many mention him alongside Tadej Pogacar. He explained as much in his interview with IDL Pro Cycling.
Omrzel stressed he knows the pressure is coming, but it doesn’t worry him. He also outlined his own goals despite the comparisons with Pogacar, making it clear his focus will be on general classifications, with the cobbled classics a little more in the background.
"The public expects a lot, but it doesn’t affect me. I know my progression and what I can do. The goals will come. Pressure even helps: it forces you to believe you can do it," said Jakob Omrzel, regarding the towering figure of Tadej Pogacar ahead of him.
Tadej Pogacar and Jakob Omrzel are two stars of Slovenian cycling.
Roubaix, the cobbles… and one more coincidence
Pogacar won the Tour de l’Avenir early in his career. Omrzel, the Giro Next Gen. But they share something else: comfort on the cobbles. While Pogacar shone at this year’s Paris-Roubaix, Omrzel already knows what it’s like to win there… when he triumphed in the junior race two years ago.
However, his main focus goes elsewhere: "I’m more oriented to general classifications. But it’s also good to feel competitive on the cobbles. They’re very different races and they make you more complete. I like working on that too."
And if he has to define himself, he doesn’t hesitate: "I’m a climber. I’m not a sprinter, except when only climbers are left and everyone is on the limit. That’s where I can take advantage. I try to improve in everything, but everyone ends up specializing in what they are [best at]," he concluded.
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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- Seixas appears to be that good but if he isn't (an absolute rival to Pogacar) he would have plenty of company in rising stars that did not go on to fully meet the expectations of many. That Pogacar wasn't the greatest (as great) sooner can't be transposed onto another's development. It may be not that simple.flyer14-11-2026
- I agree that, for Evenepoel, the Euro championship is overshadowed by the slightly off Lombardia and Worlds. However, I disagree that "Ciccone also made a serious mistake at the European Championships" because I don't think he had a win in the bag although he could have won with a perfect bike throw. Guesswork about the finish is not evidence by me for some serious mistake. Sometimes you just barely lose - although Ciccone's sourpuss about it persona was serious.flyer14-11-2026
- I bet you photobombed the video since you are his shadow!frieders314-11-2026
- Skipping the 2027 TDF would be fine in my opinion, and if so, it further reveals that him racing it in 2026 was a good decision. Seixas speaks confident, almost cocky, these days (not meant to be a criticism) and I find it a tad humorous that people (rather commentators) continually chide and advise on how Decathlon should direct and manage Seixas when Paul seems to be calling all his shots since well before this year's TDF.flyer14-11-2026
- Well I just watched this and I thought it was great! If you’re a Pogi fan, like me, you’ll enjoy it. Even if you’re not necessarily a Pogi fan I still recommend it. There’s plenty of new stuff I didn’t know about and I’m a Pogi-maniac! Nice interviews with Pogi & Matteo Trentin too.Lozza14-11-2026
- Well I just watched this and I thought it was great! If you’re a Pogi fan, like me, you’ll enjoy it. Even if you’re not necessarily a Pogi fan I still recommend it. There’s plenty of new stuff I didn’t know about and I’m a Pogi-maniac! Nice interviews with Pogi & Matteo Trentin too. So Zonnewotsit can stick it!Lozza14-11-2026
- Who’s gifting grand tours at UAE? Defo not Pogi! Stage wins maybe.Lozza13-11-2026
- Sepp Kuss Vuelta 2023.Lozza13-11-2026
- they have no expertise with classics, they have no leaders in classics. the classics is dominated by the few Fuori Classe riders where other riders are left with scraps. the Hiring , the salaries dont make sense at all. Same problem as Man Utd. over paid players, egos, very little performanceabstractengineer13-11-2026
- Contract year means you gotta win, at least collect UCI points, helping be damnedabstractengineer13-11-2026
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