Victories in the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, Strade Bianche, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Tour de Lombardie, UCI Road World Championships road race… Tadej Pogačar left his rivals in his wake on many occasions in 2024. The Slovenian reflects on a stellar year that sees him top the 2024 UCI Individual World Rankings.
If you had been told at the beginning of 2024 that you would finish the season with 25 victories on the road - including the UCI World Championships, the Tour, the Giro, two Monuments - how would you have reacted?
Tadej Pogačar (TP): Honestly, this year has been more than I could have wished for. Not just in terms of results but with training, preparations, etc. Things just seemed to flow very well. It was as close as I could come to a perfect season, and I'll never forget 2024 for this.
In your view, what was the most significant of these victories?
TP: It's no secret the UCI World Championships were in my mind for a long time and to take victory in Zurich was something so special. To win any race at a professional level takes a huge amount of work, any rider will tell you this. But to be able to say I finally won the Worlds is amazing and I would have to say this victory. That, and returning to win at the Tour after two years.
What was the most fun you had on your bike this year?
TP: I have a lot of fun on my training rides at home but in racing terms...Strade Bianche was a very fun race. The whole Giro d'Italia too was great with the fans and to experience it all for the first time. Then of course the Tour de France finishing close to my home was nice. When I look back now, I see I had the pleasure of experiencing a very nice year which I'm grateful for.
Did you also suffer during the season?
TP: Of course - suffering and cycling go hand in hand. Anyone who rides a bike, even for fun, knows what it's like to suffer on a hill or battle through cold and rain. It's what unites the cycling fraternity and makes it a special sport. I work really hard and make big sacrifices - pushing my body, diet, constantly travelling… But at the end of the day I feel blessed to have my passion for cycling as my job.
This is the fourth year in a row you have dominated the UCI Individual World Ranking, and the second year UAE Team Emirates has won the UCI Team World Ranking. How proud are you with your individual and collective performances?
TP: Cycling is a team sport, and I wouldn't be where I am today without my teammates. I probably feel more proud of the team ranking as it's something you share as a collective. Twenty riders from our team won a race this year and that's a show of the collective strength we have as a group. We have a nice atmosphere throughout the team and we all do our best for each other. Cycling is a long hard road but if you have friends and teammates who have your back then it lightens the load a lot.
You already had 17 wins in 2023. How much have you improved compared to last year?
TP : Nothing concrete but I think yes that I improved in a number of small things. A few tweaks and changes in training, diet, and then also experience is a factor. I'm still not too old yet but I find experience also counts. Using the head in races, anticipating situations, knowing the parcours, etc. Just being more mature helps.
One of the challenges this year was participating in two Grand Tours. How did you handle this?
TP : This year was the right time to try two Grand Tours. Physically my body was ready and the space between them was right. We planned out the right amount of days at altitude and then the rest period between them and it worked out. Also coming out of the Giro I was quite mentally still fresh which helped a lot.
You’ve achieved everything you set your eyes on in 2024. What are the next perspectives for you?
TP : My immediate plans involve a bit of holiday and resetting, but soon I'll start training and looking seriously at next year and goals, etc.