“We wrote a fairy tale... Everything went perfectly" - Slovenian camp react to performance for the ages from Tadej Pogacar in Kigali

Tadej Pogacar’s masterclass at the 2025 Kigali World Championships didn’t just leave fans in awe — it left his Slovenian camp beaming with pride. From the very start, it was clear that the team had come prepared, and their strategy unfolded almost flawlessly, culminating in Pogacar’s breathtaking solo victory.

At the finish, Slovenian coach Uros Murn reflected on what had been a near-perfect execution in comments collected by RTV. “We wrote a fairy tale. The boys performed brilliantly, and we controlled the race almost entirely. We knew what we were capable of, and everything worked out perfectly!”

Murn singled out a crucial tactical moment: “When the advantage grew to 50 seconds, we were already at the referee asking to be released. Once they actually let us through, the chasing group noticed immediately — surely their morale dropped. That was when the race was effectively won; it was the signal that we were on the right path.” He admitted the nerves had been greater than in previous years: “The competitors were stronger than last year, and we knew where they could catch us, so I was a bit more anxious.”

Pogacar’s teammates were equally impressed by the execution on the road. Domen Novak, the final domestique supporting Pogacar, recalled the decisive moments: “At the start, we thought we’d go as fast as possible, but then the Belgians set a strong pace. Tadej told me to just wait and hold. After the first flat section, he said, ‘Now we go.’ I thought we’d just increase the tempo gradually, but then he attacked. If he had told me earlier he was going to go, maybe I could have squeezed out a little more power.”

Novak added that while the attack was part of their pre-race plan, the city laps revealed a clear opportunity: “The first laps in the city were fast. We saw the other riders were tired, and Tadej felt it was the right moment to strike.”

Matej Mohoric also praised the champion’s composure and confidence. “Tadej said that if he felt great, he would attack. We knew that in that case, only Primoz could keep up with him. It was better for him to go at his own pace. Attack is the best defence. I’m fascinated by how strong he is — and that he actually did it. He’s confident and believes in himself.”

Mohorič highlighted just how punishing the climb and city laps had been: “The first four hours went fine for me, but once the legs start burning, it’s impossible to maintain that pace.”