Tadej Pogacar has never won the World Championships and so in the upcoming week, most eyes will be on him after a season of deadly success in the big events and a route that is quite difficult. Within UAE Team Emirates, the same kind of confidence radiates ahead of the big day.
"Tadej is always motivated and looking forward to winning new races. He already has good form, although he didn't do anything special for that," team DS Andrej Hauptman said of the Slovenian to In de Leiderstrui. In Luxembourg, where Hauptman is at the team car, the team sees Marc Hirschi in terrific form and Juan Ayuso also showing very positive signs. UAE will be hoping they can perform, but the main expectations will be on the leader of the Slovenian squad.
Pogacar lacks the kind of preparation that he had towards the Giro and the Tour with altitude training and ultra-specific focus, but with a more relaxed approach and without the pressure so much on his shoulders, it is also possible to achieve a very high level. "He rode relaxed for a few weeks after the Tour without specific training. He is preparing more precisely and then gets up to speed quickly".
In Canada he proved to be having great legs with a comfortable and dominant win on the GP de Montréal, where he attacked from far - perhaps in an attempt to prepare himself specifically for the demands of the course in Zurich where this tactic may be deployed. "Whether he can do more after Canada? That's never easy to predict. You depend on other teams ' strengths, even if you are in top form. We'll see," Hauptman concludes.
Whilst the presence of Matej Mohoric is very much at risk, Pogacar will be able to count on the support or even help co-leader and Vuelta a España winner Primoz Roglic, which gives the team more than one serious card to play in search of the rainbow jersey.
Happy Birthday Tadej Pogačar, @TamauPogi🎂🚴♂️, the 2024 double Grand Tour winner @LeTour @giroditalia and proud ambassador of Slovenian tourism. Wishing you a day filled with joy and many successful races ahead! #ifeelsLOVEnia #sloveniaoutdoor ▶️ ter.li/tadej_pogacar
