"Since I switched, there have been no more problems": Tadej Pogacar speaks out ahead of the World Championships

Rarely have we seen the UAE Emirates-XRG powerhouse look as vulnerable as he did last Sunday, although, in the words of Evenepoel himself, we shouldn't exaggerate. “Please don't try to make things more important than they are,” said the Belgian on Sunday after the race, wearing his rainbow jersey. “Tadej will get over this quickly.”

Everything points in that direction. The Slovenian doesn't have much to lose this season, although, as the current rainbow jersey wearer, that may be a somewhat contradictory statement. What is certain is that he is determined to sell himself dearly to the competition in the tough title race in Kigali. A warned Pogacar counts for two, right?

Tadej, do you see yourself as the top favorite for Sunday, even after what happened last Sunday?
“I think it's not so bad. Expectations are high, and I expect a lot from my legs, so I'm aiming for the top. We have one of the strongest teams at the start, and I feel ready after some good training sessions. I'm in my place and I've gotten an extra boost.”

What do you expect from Remco on Sunday?
“Maybe he wanted some revenge because Jonas Vingegaard overtook him in the Tour. It was good for him: he erased a bad moment. On Sunday, it may be my turn to erase that bad feeling.”

Who do you expect?
“There are many eager riders, but some will also be watching me. Remco flew on Sunday, of course, but I also expect a lot from my UAE teammates, like Isaac del Toro and Pavel Sivakov. And then there are others, such as Tom Pidcock. We have to focus on our own race above all else.”

What is your experience of racing in Rwanda, encompassing all aspects?
'We are at altitude. It's not 1,800 or 2,000 meters, but even 1,500 meters is noticeable. I'm glad I arrived on time, and I'm also enjoying the ambience. There are already a lot of people, and we've been able to train well on good roads. They were two of the best training sessions of my season, despite the unusual weather: hot and a bit sticky. It all feels a bit different on the bike because the air quality isn't very good."

Does that make it difficult to predict how you will feel?
"When I arrived here, my legs weren't at their best. Since I switched to the road bike, there have been no more problems. I'm accustomed to the conditions, and my legs are responding well."

How much time did you take to recover from Sunday, and are you still making any adjustments?
“I know that a lot of eyes are on me, and I can't always do the same trick, so we'll see how we approach it. I'm already looking forward to my off-season. I haven't raced that much yet, but when I do race, it's often in big competitions. It's also difficult to take a real break during the season with Urska, because we both race.”

Which part of the course suits you best?
"On paper, Mount Kigali, but I also like the two cobbled climbs. It's a long way from Mount Kigali to the finish, which is a shame. It would have been nicer if it had been closer to the finish line."

Can you compare this race to the Tour of Flanders?
"The cobblestones are completely different from those in Flanders. It doesn't matter that much, because it's uphill. It just makes it harder."

Which race would you compare it to?
"It's a really nice local circuit, but it's not that super tough. You get some altitude for free, but it's still the toughest World Championship I've seen. Much more fun than Wollongong, for example, where Remco won in 2022. This is a really cool course. It's also very different from last year, when I attacked very early in Zurich. That was perhaps a bit too far."