‘I hadn’t had that question yet, nice’: Tadej Pogačar has an answer for almost everything after Tour of Flanders win

“I don’t know what to say,” the Slovenian had still said in his television flash interview immediately after the race. But after having had time to enjoy his own celebration — and to share that moment with Demi Vollering of FDJ-Suez after the women’s race — the narrative had changed quite a bit by the time he faced the media around 6:45 PM local time.

Tadej, where does this victory rank for you?
“It was a very hard race against strong competition. Everyone raced really aggressively and gave everything, so that only makes this win more meaningful. Flanders is simply a super-tough race with a beautiful atmosphere for the fans, and that is why I love it so much.”

You could win all five Monuments this year.
“I now have two out of five, so let’s not rush things. Paris-Roubaix? Motivation is high, pressure is low. As the tyres will be.”

“I’m first going to enjoy this victory and then we’ll look toward Roubaix, where we will also start with a very strong team.”

The game had another incident with the train. How did that happen in your experience?
“I hadn’t had that question yet, nice.

“Well, not nice actually. We were riding there and suddenly three guys jumped onto the road. Mikkel Bjerg had been riding on the front all day, and then suddenly those men were there. But how can you stop an entire group in one second?

“They should have stopped us earlier, not ten metres before the crossing. I thought it was a protest. But the rule they used there was a bit strange. They should have stopped both the breakaway and us, but in the end Mikkel was so strong that he was able to control those extra two minutes.”

How did you handle the race afterwards?
“We have a very strong team and they made sure I could start the hilly section without spending too much energy. In Flanders you need that, but you also need exceptional legs. Fortunately, I had them.”

“The Kwaremont is the hardest climb and it is the longest real effort in the race, while after that it still keeps going up and down a bit all the way to the Paterberg.”

Did you talk to Mathieu after the attack?
“Not really, because there was no time for that.”

Was he fully committed?
“I had some doubts as well, because you can’t feel what he feels. Maybe he’s bluffing, maybe he isn’t. You think about everything, but in the end he rode, as always, for everything he was worth.”

“I had some doubts as well, because you can’t feel what he feels. Maybe he’s bluffing, maybe he isn’t. You think about everything, but in the end he rode, as always, for everything he was worth.”

Do they still enjoy racing against you, do you think?
“Some of them maybe do, others maybe don’t. I don’t know.”

They might get a little discouraged.
“But why? I’ve only had three race days so far, out of I-don’t-know-how-many race days there are.”

You just keep getting better. Mathieu said he is at his best, but that also seems to apply to you. How do you keep finding that extra layer?
“I’m lucky that I’m still improving, or that there is still room for improvement. I think that mostly comes because the competition keeps forcing me to the limit, but it won’t go on forever.

“And be careful: when I do a training session, I suffer just like all of you do on the bike. At a different speed, of course, but I’m just as tired.”

Can you give an insight into your preparation for Roubaix?'
“We have prepared well, but we will see next Sunday.” (grins)

So not an answer for absolutely everything after all.