"Tadej, listen to me: Don’t risk your life!" – How Mohoric made Pogacar hesitate just enough in Milan-Sanremo

"That scenario in Sanremo was something I had dreamed of," Mohoric begins before diving into the story. "The story doesn’t start in Milan, but in Strade Bianche. I was involved in Julian Alaphilippe’s crash. I was right behind him and nearly stayed upright, but I hit Tiesj Benoot’s bike and also went down. Luckily, I wasn’t seriously injured—just a cut on an old scar on my knee."

And just like that, his big goal seemed in jeopardy. "Sanremo was my main target, especially because I knew I would be using my dropper seat post. We had a real plan that year, and I was so determined to make it work. That crash felt like it ruined everything. I couldn’t ride for two or three days, but I was stubborn and still got on the rollers."

"Four days before Sanremo, I was finally able to complete my first real training session, and that’s when I started to believe I could still race," continues the Bahrain Victorious leader. "It was all or nothing—I knew I had just one chance. I saved that chance for the Poggio. Tadej Pogacar attacked like a madman there, but there was a headwind. I thought: my god, he’s so strong. If I didn’t win this year, it would be over for me."

"I reached the top in fourth or fifth place, about three seconds behind. I knew that was my moment to strike. I thought: I don’t care anymore. Tadej, Wout van Aert, and Mathieu van der Poel were looking at each other, and I seized the perfect moment to pass them. Tadej was at the front, and I had been talking to him a lot during the race," Mohoric laughs.

How exactly did that go? "He was curious about my dropper post, and I told him: ‘Tadej, listen to me. You’re a good friend of mine, so don’t risk your life and your Tour de France by following me down the Poggio descent. You know I’m crazy, so just stay safe.’ He was at the front at that moment, and I think he hesitated for just a second—which was just enough for me," Mohoric still relishes the memory three years later.

The Slovenian, who will be working with Dutch sports director Aart Vierhouten at Bahrain Victorious, also gave a brief preview of his 2025 spring campaign. "I’ll start at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, where I actually want to be good right away. Then I’ll race almost all the classics, up to the Amstel Gold Race. I have a new coach, I’ve adjusted my preparation a bit, and I feel really good about it now."