"This race is not really in the interest of my team, but..." - The one race Tadej Pogacar will have to battle UAE to focus on
CyclingThursday, 06 August 2026 at 15:43
Tadej Pogacar is the best cyclist in professional cycling at the time being, and because of this, the leverage he has over his team perhaps surpasses that of any other rider in the peloton. However he admits that in 2028 he already has his eyes on the Olympic Games, but will have to convince the team to fully focus on it.
Milano-Sanremo win becomes life-changing for Pogacar
The World Champion has just come off a record-matching fifth Tour de France win, and will soon be at the start of the Vuelta a España, where will be the main favourite to take his first overall win there. It would mark another key point in a year where he has achieved a lot, including a first triumph in his fourth monument.
"I still can't quite believe that I actually won Milan-San Remo. I probably won't realize that until next year in January and February, when I no longer have to go around there every other day to train on the climbs of the Cipressa and the Poggio," the Slovenian said in words to the 202 podcast.
"There are a lot of cars, motorcyclists, and cyclists there too: I prefer training on the climbs in France." A resident in Monaco, Pogacar trains mostly on the French Alpes Maritimes; but last winter a lot of his training was dedicated to the short and explosive climbs of the Ligurian coast, where he flew this March to take his first win at the longest race in professional road cycling.
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Olympic Games a goal for Pogacar, but not UAE
The one monument he is now left to win is Paris-Roubaix, a race he once again finished second at this year, following an early puncture that cost him the energy he might have used to launch a winning attack. Pogacar was beaten by Wout Van Aert at the Roubaix velodrome and perhaps because of this reason, the 'Hell of the North' has become his biggest goal for the upcoming season. "That remains the big goal," he assures.
Pogacar's contract ends in 2030, and this Thursday UAE Team Emirates - XRG has secured his teammate and friend Isaac del Toro all the way into 2031 - boasting the team's long-term future. Pogacar does not look that far ahead into the future, but does for 20208.
"That is, of course, when the Olympic Games take place, which occur once every four years," he points out. Out of the many wins the climber has in his palmarès, a triumph at the Olympics is missing. With the race taking place in Los Angeles and featuring a summit finish at the Griffith Observatory, it will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to complete another major achievement in his career.
"I have to plan the race schedule well throughout the year to be in top form then". However, he already anticipates tough conversations, as he reveals UAE Team Emirates - XRG is not overly fond of the event.
"At the same time, this race is not really in the interest of my team, but these are my wishes and I think the team will take that into account".
Above all, the Olympics that year almost fully collide with the Tour de France, which will start earlier than usual so as to accommodate for those wanting to combine both events.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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- it is reported on other sites that he signed his extension with UAEmij06-08-2026
- Why are we recycling old podcast takes from many months ago and Pogacar already said UAE is aboard with him on the OL plans. This is just lazy journalism if even that.miguel06-08-2026
- he wants clarity on the team's plans. what clarity does the team have on his plans to remain a hard-worker once he gets a longer contract?mij06-08-2026
- not only do they deserve it, the racing is fantastic. yesterday's stage was amazing.mij06-08-2026
- I agree, Remco did have bigger power output in the lower and punchier mountains, but when they would have got into the high mountains, then the picture would be turned around. I still think Jonas is a better high mountain climber and would have beaten Remco on Alp d'Huez. Maybe we will never know, I have the feeling Jonas will retire. He has nothing more to prove: He won all three GT, TdF twice... he won all the major one week stage races... he can't seem to win one day races... he crashed out on a few occasions and hurt himself pretty badly... him staying and beating other cyclists that are not Pogačar is BS... he knows he will never again beat Pogi, regardless what he says... SO??? Retirement !!!PogiSloFans06-08-2026
- I can't imagine saying "no" to a countryman making this request to represent your company to help the team win.mij06-08-2026
- Learning isn't just about acquiring new skills—it’s a direct investment in your future. Every time you dedicate time to grow, you reaffirm your commitment to becoming a better version of yourself and prepare for bigger opportunities ahead.raulmejia06-08-2026
- I get the impression that VIngegaard doesnt actually like to race bike-races so I dont think he will.miguel06-08-2026
- Look, Pogi is my compatriot and I know a little more about him then ordinary commentators. I have inside information. Pogi's estimated VO2 max is around 90 to 96 mL/kg/min, some are saying amost up to 100, which places him among the highest ever suggested for an endurance athlete. However, it's not the single reason he dominates. His true advantage comes from a combination of: 1. An exceptionally high VO2 max. 2. The ability to ride at an unusually high percentage of it for long periods. 3. Outstanding cycling efficiency. 4. Rapid recovery. 5. Exceptional race intelligence. He knows exactly what's happening in each race, so on many occasions he changes the teams plans and tactics between the race and put's his domestiques in a different position. If that fales, he goes by himself and says "bye bye... see you in the douches." 6. My country of Slovenia is widely recognized as one of the top countries in the world for athletic success per capita. With a population of just around 2. million, we consistently rank near the very peak of global sporting achievements. Our sports stars are: Pogi (the G.O.A.T. of cycling), Primož Roglič (a former high profile professional cyclist that used to be a ski jumper), Luka Dončić (NBA star), Anže Kopitar (NHL star), Janja Garnbret (the greatest competitive sport climber of all time), Tina Maze (a legendary alpine skiing champion with multiple Olympic gold medals and WC), Domen Prevc (the best ski jumper in the world), Nika Prevc (Domen's sister, also the best female ski jumper in the world... 3 years in a row)... Need I say more !!!PogiSloFans06-08-2026
- > All in all, these estimates look so confusing. Maybe they aren’t that confusing. Once you account for bike weight and aerodynamics, it’s still possible that Pantani had to put in more effort than Pogačar, even though he climbed slower.averagecyclist06-08-2026
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