Urska Zigart on her partner Pogacar: "Tadej often thinks that I sacrifice much more for our lives than he does, but that’s not true"
Cycling
Tadej Pogacar has achieved what can only be termed as history in 2024 and a good part of that success is owed to his partner Urska Zigart. The two work together in perfection off the bike and in a recent interview the Slovenian rider admits that they were working on creating a second development team in their home country, this time around dedicated to the support of female riders.
In words to Sportal, Zigart admits that "we are currently planning to set up a youth team, for female cyclists from the junior and promising categories (under-23, ed.). We also don't want to neglect the promising cyclists, who should later switch to the pros, so we want to help them too. Tadej and I have always wanted to help girls too". After the 'Pogi Team' comes the 'Pika Team', the nicknames of both riders.
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Pogacar has not only been of massive influence for the country's cycling aspirations, becoming what is without a doubt the most talented rider in modern cycling, but his financial means also grow by the year and with a new contract signed until UAE Team Emirates until 2030, there should be even more influence within the team.
Regardless, the project is almost ready to go on the road for the 2025 season. "As for Pika Team, I have to admit that until this season I didn’t see myself as someone who could start my own team, let alone a team that would carry my name or nickname. But this year, with all the events that have taken place, I understood even more how important it is to give something back to Slovenian cycling".
They both live in Monaco and Zigart herself has taken a strong step this year, having won both road race and time-trial national championships and showing her climber legs with a fourth place at the recent Giro dell'Emilia Donne. She has signed a two-year deal with AG Insurance - Soudal where she is eager to develop more as a rider. But of course, she was asked about her relationship with the men's World Champion and shares insight into her point of view.
"I think he sees me making compromises more often, but given his name, career and achievements I think that’s completely understandable. If I could always focus on myself one hundred percent, I might achieve more. But without Tadej I would have had much less experience and would have had less advice and opportunities," the 27-year old adds. "I think I’m better off anyway. Tadej often thinks that I sacrifice much more for our lives than he does, but that’s not true. It is true that sometimes, when I ride behind him during training, I suffer more, or I spend less time in the shower than he does, so I can cook earlier - but these are small things that are not a problem for me. In short, we both contribute".
Zigart is frequently at her partner's races and with the frequency that Pogacar has won this year, she has often been in the picture for an emotional post-race celebration. "I think we both see what we do for each other, and sometimes it seems that what your partner does for you is worth more than what you contribute yourself. But I believe that it is better to think this way than to think that one person gives up more than the other. This creates a positive view of the relationship, where we appreciate each other's efforts and consciously try to maintain a balance," she concludes.
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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- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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