"We're racing practically a stone's throw from his house" - Matej Mohoric on Pogacar's disappointment to miss European Championships
Cycling
Tadej Pogacar had the opportunity of racing and potentially winning an European Championship title in Sencur, Slovenia. On his old training roads, the former World Champion was disappointed to have experienced it from the sidelines - as described by compatriot Matej Mohoric.
Slovenia is a country that has historically not had many big names in the sport of cycling, but in the 2020's has fully taken over it. From Olympic to World and European titles; From multiple Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España wins, and more...
Yet the 2026 European Championships marked a very important step for the country, as it hosted for the first time an edition of the European Championships. The event would boost the country's image in the international sports scene, and had Tadej Pogacar as the focal point.
World and European Championships venues, like the Olympic Games, are decided years ahead. Slovenia has prepared the Europeans in consultation with Pogacar, with the road race passing by his hometown of Komenda and finishing in Sencur, next to a climb where the Tour de France champion would train in his younger years.
Pogacar was at the Europeans, but due to the injuries suffered at the Vuelta a España, he could no more than being a spectator - and attraction - during this Sunday's event.
Matej Mohoric has been close to Matej Mohoric for plenty years
Tadej Pogacar's major disappointment, as seen by Matej Mohoric
Mohoric, who has been teaming up with the UAE Team Emirates - XRG rider for plenty years, has no doubt of the major disappointment that Pogacar's inability to race at the time being has been.
"Tadej is incredibly passionate about cycling; he doesn't race for any reason other than wanting to show what he's made of and to win every race," Mohoric said, as reported by Ekipa.
"Especially when it's a championship on home soil. We're racing practically a stone's throw from his house, so I can imagine his frustration and his intense desire to compete. He is likely even more disappointed than the rest of us, passionate fans and followers of the sport that we are".
The team still had Primoz Roglic as a contender for a medal in Sencur, but the veteran was not able to achieve a top result for the home crowd during this Sunday's headliner. The time trial on Wednesday provides another opportunity.
"It’s a huge shame. You could say fate always has a better plan than we do, but I really don't see the point of it turning out this way. I, too, would have liked to see Tadej at the start line".
Asked why the decision was taken to keep Pogacar out of the race, the answer was clear for the Bahrain - Victorious rider: "Because they are protecting his health, it’s as simple as that."
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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