"With Tadej Pogacar in Zürich, we are going there with one clear objective" - Matej Mohoric insists Slovenia don't have split loyalties World Championship road race
Cycling
Of all the teams taking to the start line in Zürich for the men's elite road race at the 2024 World Championship next weekend, it's the Slovenians that arguably can boast the best lineup. Tadej Pogacar, Primoz Roglic, Matej Mohoric and more, but according to the latter, there is only one leader.
"With Tadej Pogacar in Zürich, we are going there with one clear objective. I will do my best to do my part. I think Tadej deserves this," Mohoric confirms in conversation with Cycling News. "I think there might be a point in the future when he can do the same for another rider from the national team, so I think it's important that we stick together and try to win the World Championships, which has never happened before for Slovenia."
Aside from being compatriots and teammates in the national team, Mohoric and Pogacar also share a close bond away from the bike. "We train together a lot in Monaco. So I would say we are good friends," the current gravel world champion explains. "He's super extroverted, so he is actually the way he shows up on social media. He's super open, easy going, almost too relaxed at times. He just lives his best life. He enjoys every moment."
After crashing out of a recent recon for a gravel race in Girona, Mohoric's World Championship prospects looked slim initially. Thankfully though, the 29-year-old Bahrain - Victorious star has escaped any serious injury and is set to take to the start line in Zürich, ready to help his good friend and compatriot Tadej Pogacar to complete a piece of cycling history by taking the Rainbow Jersey.
In cycling's long and storied history, just two riders have ever managed to take a fabled Triple Crown of Giro d'Italia, Tour de France and World Championship in the same year. Next Sunday in Zürich, we shall see if Pogacar can join the illustrious company of Eddy Merckx and Stephen Roche.
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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No power reading, no problem 😅 Remco Evenepoel and Tadej Pogačar have both won races this year without their cycle computers. 📸 Getty Images
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