UAE "don't even have the words to describe his performance" - Joxean Matxin on Tadej Pogacar

Tadej Pogacar is known to be a dominant figure within pro cycling, however his start to the 2023 season has been impressive even for his standards. On his third race of the year, the UAE Team Emirates rider has taken his third win in what seemed to be comfortable fashion.

“The team was great all week, but Tadej was even more than that," team manager Joxean Matxin told L'Équipe. "I don't even have the words to describe his performance, especially at this stage of the season. You have to be really strong to win the final stage of Paris-Nice. It is always very nervous and it takes place on a very technical course.”

Pogacar opened his season with a victory at the Clásica Jaén Paraiso Interior. Then came the Vuelta a Andalucia where he won three out of the five stages and the overall classification. At Paris-Nice, with a different set of rivals including Jonas Vingegaard, Pogacar once again won three stages and conquered the overall classification. He won two in the yellow jersey, and despite being in the race lead he still attacked the final day to arrive alone to Nice.

“Tadej really wanted to win here. He lives nearby and we realized that he would do everything he could," Matxin explained Pogacar's tactics on the final day of Paris-Nice. The way he did it was epic. It was good to adjust his goals a bit. He insisted on taking part in Paris-Nice. By passing for the UAE Tour, the competition of our main sponsor, he started his season a bit more relaxed. That also made him fresher in his head.”

That freshness may be limited, but for the time being Pogacar is putting his form to good use. He has not done altitude training yet this year, but has seemingly not needed it as he dominated from start to finish all races he's taken part of. "His level is all the more impressive because he has not prepared at altitude this winter, which is quite new for him," Matxin continued.

Next in line is Milano-Sanremo, which despite being better suited to other riders, will with certainty see Pogacar as a leading favourite for the victory. That will be only one of his several remaining goals for this spring however, the biggest of which being most certainly the Tour des Flandres.