‘I Was Not Expecting These Good Legs’: Tadej Pogačar Upbeat

“], “filter”: { “nextExceptions”: “img, blockquote, div”, “nextContainsExceptions”: “img, blockquote, a.btn, a.o-button”} }”>

He didn’t win, he didn’t finish on the podium.

Heck, he didn’t finish in the top 5. But was Tadej Pogačar happy with his performance in the GP Cycliste de Quebéc Friday?

Absolutely.

With eyes on the upcoming world road race championships on September 29, where he has the chance of becoming only the third rider in history to complete the historic Giro/Tour/worlds treble, Pogačar believes he is in the right sort of form.

“It’s really good,” he said, when asked how he rated his first race in almost eight weeks.

“I was not expecting these good legs to be back. I am super happy with the shape and how I managed the first race after a bit of rest.

“So I think I am ready for Sunday and the world championships.”

Pogačar last competed on July 21, the final day of the Tour de France. He sped to his sixth stage victory of the race in the individual time trial in Nice and also completed his overall success in the Tour.

He then took a break from training, unwinding with his partner Urška Žigart, before starting to knuckle down once again.

Taking such a long break seems a gamble but that has been his pattern this year. Namely, periods of intense racing, separated by gaps in competition for training camps at altitude.

That worked in his first race of the season, Strade Bianche, and in many events since.

Indeed that on/off approach has led to his best season yet, with a staggering 21 victories out of 53 days of competition.

That’s positively Merckxian, and so too would be taking victory at the worlds after the Giro and Tour.

Talking Québec tactics: ‘I should have launched it from before’

Those watching the GP Cycliste de Québec Friday might have expected Pogačar to be downbeat after his race.

Finishing seventh wasn’t the goal, and wasn’t why his UAE Team Emirates squad worked so hard in the finale.

But while he seemed to be missing a little pep in his step, a little sparkle in his surges, he was smiling after the race.

Part of that was down to the joy he feels in competition. Part of that was because of his sensations in the first event back.

“It was a really good race,” he said. “The team did a super good job. I wanted a hard final and we did it. We managed to do a really hard last couple of laps.

“I wasn’t sure of my last kilometer if I would attack or not. I made the wrong decision, waited for a sprint and I was boxed in.”

Pogačar played his card inside the final kilometers, going clear with a small group on the last climb. He then launched a blistering surge with 2.1km remaining, going all out for a prolonged period, but last year’s winner Arnaud de Lie was able to hold his wheel.

Two of De Lie’s Lotto Dstny teammates bridged across and started riding, causing Pogačar to gamble in a way that ultimately didn’t work out.

“That is why I did not go for a longer attack. I looked back and there was still a gap with one K to go,” he explained.

“With three guys from Lotto, I was thinking we will make it to the finish but the group was coming from behind really fast. I should have launched it from before and maybe I could stay away.

“But it is what it is. It was fun racing and I enjoyed it a lot.”

Pogačar hungry for Montréal, Matthews unsure: ‘It may be too hard for me’

Other riders in Pogačar’s position might obsess over what could and should have been done differently. He won’t do that; he prefers to focus on the next opportunities.

These are the GP Cycliste de Montréal Sunday, and then the world road race championships in two weeks’ time.

For sure Friday’s race was about seeking victory. But it was also about getting sharp again, finding the race rhythm once more and building for that worlds target and whatever might follow.

He’s had a long season but if he takes victory in Switzerland, you can be sure he will want to win races such as Il Lombardia wearing the rainbow jersey.

Sunday’s race in Montreal may hand him a better opportunity. It’s harder and hillier, and should be much more selective.

There’s no room to hide, and the punchy sprinters will have their work really cut out to remain in contention.

And that’s by their own admission.

Take Michael Matthews, winner on Friday and now the three-time champion of the GP Cycliste de Quebéc. He’s a past winner of Sunday’s race but plays down his chances of a repeat.

“Unfortunately, it was a different race in Montreal when I won. I think now the climbers they have here, it’s going to be very difficult,” he said.

“But we’ve also got Simon Yates if it’s too hard for me. He’s an amazing climber and he loves this race too in Montreal.”

Matthews is a good friend of Pogačar and was warmly congratulated by the latter after his win Friday.

The victory meant a lot to the Australian; he had a loss in the family last week.

“My grandma actually passed away last week Wednesday. Her funeral was this Wednesday in Canberra in Australia,” he explained. “So this victory is for her.”

‘I was trying to make up for that relegation’

Matthews didn’t just take motivation from his wish to honor his family member.

Getting a win after a penalization earlier this season was also important to him, not least because that incident in the spring classics affected his morale for quite some time.

“I had a really good start to the year. But since Flanders with my disqualification in that sprint, my head rolled off a little bit, honestly,” he admitted.

“With the Tour de France and the Olympics, I was trying to make up for that unfortunate relegation. To bounce back here with the lead up to the World Championships with a win here in Quebec is incredible.”

Next up is that GP Cycliste de Montréal. Both Matthews and Pogačar will be two of the big champions to watch Sunday.

Both riders could shine, although Matthews knows that his chances depend on the race being ridden conservatively. That’s something that Pogačar’s UAE Team Emirates squad will try to ensure doesn’t happen.

They may be friends, but the Tour winner’s chances depend on getting rid of those who are faster than him in a sprint.

Matthews realizes that, and also realizes that the Slovenian will likely gain much of the attention beforehand. That’s what happened before Friday’s race in Quebéc, including with the media in the press conference earlier this week.

He’s fine with that; Matthews says trying to win is all that matters, not the attention or lack thereof that he gets.

“Tadej is number one cyclist in the world at the moment. He’s done some things this year that we’ve never seen in cycling before,” he said.

“So I totally understand that. I’m a fan of him also. So I think when he comes to Canada it’s not so often and I understand that the fans love him and he’s great for the sport.”

Part of Pogačar’s appeal is the way he animates races. He clearly loves competition and, whatever the final result, is certain to make Sunday’s race a spectacular one.

“I am super happy to be back,” he said. “The legs were turning good. I cannot wait for Sunday.”

The same enthusiasm applies to the upcoming world championships. Taking the rainbow jersey has long been a goal.

Being able to join Eddy Merckx and Stephen Roche as cycling’s only winners of the hallowed triple will only heighten his excitement and his focus.