"We really need each other” – How Urska Zigart and Tadej Pogacar are aiming for historic European Championship double
Cycling
For years, Tadej Pogacar and Urska Zigart have been one of cycling’s most admired partnerships — two driven athletes navigating the demands of elite sport while maintaining an unshakeable bond. Now, as both prepare for this weekend’s European Championships, the couple find themselves in rare harmony: training, travelling and racing side by side, united by form, focus and a shared sense of purpose.
In the past, their hectic racing calendars often kept them apart for long stretches. Pogacar’s relentless World Tour schedule — heavy on stage races and altitude camps — rarely aligned with Zigart’s commitments in the women’s peloton. Yet 2025 has offered a welcome change of rhythm.
“We’ve been able to spend a lot of time together,” Zigart explained in quotes collected by IDL Pro Cycling. “Since the Tour, we’ve only been apart for a week, when Tadej was in Canada. It’s good for us to spend time together like this, even though we know it’s not possible every year. We motivate and push each other, and we really need each other.”
That connection has been visible throughout the late season. After Pogacar sealed his fourth Tour de France victory, the pair were inseparable in their preparations for the World Championships in Rwanda and now the Europeans in France. Both have thrived off the dynamic, channelling the stability of their relationship into their professional form.
“If I could, I’d race everything with her”
For Pogacar, Zigart’s presence at races adds a sense of balance. “Urska needs to be here, she’s very motivated,” he said during his press conference. “It helps that I’m here, so we can travel together and be together. That’s easier when we’re riding the same races. If I had the choice, I would want to ride everything with her all year round. I appreciate moments like these, when you can be together in the races.”
Zigart agrees. “We keep each other focused, but we also motivate each other,” she explained. “Sometimes Tadej has a bad day, and sometimes I do, but then we pull each other along. For example, one day this week, he had two hours of light training, and I had four hours of intense training. Tadej ended up riding with me for almost the entire session.”
Chasing a double in France
Pogacar will line up among the favourites in the men’s road race, while Zigart targets a breakthrough result in the women’s event. The Slovenian champion believes the parcours could suit her strengths. “It will be a tough race at the European Championships, with selective climbs,” she said. “I hope to be there, especially on the long climb. I hope to finish in the top ten, but I hope to surprise with more.”
Zigart has already accumulated four national time trial titles, one road title and a stage victory in Valencia. More recently, her consistency at World Tour level suggests the long-awaited step up could be imminent. “I’m looking forward to next season,” she added. “I dream of performing well in the big races.”
With Pogacar chasing another title to add to his extraordinary 2025 season — and Zigart poised for her own moment in the spotlight — Slovenia could be on the verge of a historic weekend.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- 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
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