fot. UAE Team Emirates
Behind us is one of those races that you simply had to see. Tadej Pogačar’s 100-kilometer rally, including more than half of the distance covered solo, led the Slovenian to his first world title in his career. It’s no wonder that the 26-year-old was the happiest man in the world at the finish line.
The Road Cycling World Championships – Zurich 2024 made history. As a farewell to the Swiss championship, we could watch the elite men’s mass start race and one thing must be admitted – it did not disappoint. Polish fans could watch the attacks of Filip Maciejuk and Piotr Pękala from the start, and 130 kilometers before the finish line, the real show began when the second teams from the most important national teams in the world entered the fray. As if that was not enough, with over 100 kilometers before the end, Tadej Pogačar decided to jump into this group. With the help of Jan Tratnik, who had escaped earlier, he started his rally for the world champion title.
I can’t believe what I’ve achieved. After such a brilliant season, I was putting a lot of pressure on myself today. I had it not only from my side, but also from the team – we came here to win. The race started quite quickly and there was a dangerous breakaway. Reacting to this, I made perhaps a rather stupid attack, but fortunately Jan Tratnik helped me and I had to keep pushing until the very end. It was an amazing race, I can’t believe what happened. Of course, such a race was not planned. We planned to keep the peloton under control, but the situation surprised us and I don’t know what I was thinking, I just went with the flow and luckily I made it, although it was very difficult
– Tadej Pogačar said hotly.
The Slovenian is simply amazing this year – he won the Tour de France (+6 stages), Giro d’Italia (+6 stages), Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Strade Bianche, Volta a Catalunya (+4 stages) and the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal, and now he has also become the winner of the World Championships. The 26-year-old’s achievements are simply impressive and one may wonder whether this is not one of the best single seasons for a cyclist in the entire history of this sport. Cycling Statistics on Twitter even says that no one has had such a good year yet.
📊🇸🇮Pogačar 2024 is the best season in male pro-cycling ever according to @prestigelisten.
589 | 🇸🇮Pogačar’24*
585 | 🇧🇪Merckx’72
576 | 🇧🇪Merckx’73
548 | 🇧🇪Merckx’70
540 | 🇧🇪Merckx’71
511 | 🇧🇪Merckx’69
507 | 🇧🇪Merckx’74
440 | 🇬🇧Coppi’49
384 | 🇮🇪Roche’87— Cycling Statistics 📊 (@StatsOnCycling) September 29, 2024
I wanted this title, after many years of fighting in the Tour de France and other races, I missed this world championship. This was my goal for this year from the beginning and I am glad that everything went smoothly along the way. After a perfect season, it was a big goal to win the World Cup and I can’t believe it was achieved, I have to thank the whole team, without them it wouldn’t have been possible. I’m super proud of the national team
– continued Tadej Pogačar, full of euphoria.
If the Slovenian’s plans do not change, we will see the 26-year-old in the rainbow jersey for the first time in a week – his preliminary calendar this season also includes Giro dell’Emilia (5/10), Tre Valli Varesine (8/10) and Il Lombardia (12/10). ). Will the 26-year-old add another to his 23 triumphs this year? Considering his form, the chances of this happening are at least high.
Everything about the Road Cycling World Championships – Zurich 2024:
