There will be no Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar at the 2024 Paris Olympics, according to a statement from the Slovenian team. Citing fatigue, Slovenian Olympic coach Uroš Murn said that the UAE Team Emirates rider will give up his spot in the road race and time trial. “Unfortunately, Tadej Pogačar has cancelled his participation because of extreme fatigue,” Murn said in a release.
On Sunday, Pogačar won the Tour de France in magnificent fashion, dominating throughout and taking six stage wins. With his Tour of Italy win in May, he becomes the first cyclist to complete the Giro-Tour double since the late Marco Pantani in 1998.
Cycling’s most famous couple, Urška Žigart and Tadej Pogačar just won the nationals
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Although the main reason cited was fatigue from having raced two Grand Tours, there was initial speculation that he might be withdrawing in solidarity with his fiancée Urška Žigart, who was surprisingly not selected for the women’s team.
However, none of this has been confirmed. Pogačar did post on social media that he was upset and angry about the decision. “Urška Žigart, two-time national champion and the best Slovenian in stage races, has not been called up for the Olympics. There are no words. And she looks so good in the national team jersey. Always proud of you,” he posted on Instagram.
Even on Sunday, when asked about the Olympics, Pogačar was cagey.
“I need a little rest after the Tour, and I’m not sure what I’ll be doing next,” Pogačar said in Nice, after winning the final TT. “I want to relax, rest, and spend some time with my girlfriend.”
One thing is clear: he is still determined to become the first cyclist to win cycling’s Triple Crown—the Tour, Giro, and World road race championships—since Stephen Roche in 1987. Only one other cyclist has accomplished the feat: the great Eddy Merckx.
Pogačar’s manager, Johnny Carera, previously that Zurich remains the next goal. He told Bicisport, ‘The world championship is certain; it is his other major goal. I think the same can be said for Lombardia. I wouldn’t guarantee his presence at the Olympics one hundred percent. Given his status, he should participate to win.’”
The 2024 Paris Olympics begin July 26. The time trial is on July 27, and the road races take place August 3 and 4.
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