Tadej Pogačar returns to cyclocross with a victory in Slovenia
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) won the inaugural Cyclocross Ljubljana race in cyclocross on Sunday in Ljubljana. The two-time winner of the Tour de France, together with Slovenian professional Luka Mezgec (Team BikeExchange), surprised journalists by announcing his participation a few days before the race.
Matvež Govekar from Tirolski KTM had the early lead in the Slovenian Cyclocross Cup, followed by Mezgec. In the sixth of eight rounds, Pogačar overtook Mezgec and pulled a 15-second lead that held to the finish line. Govekar hung there and rounded the podium for 37 seconds behind.
While Pogačar’s knowledge of cyclocross may surprise someone, we know the talents of the 23-year-old in Slovenia, where he was the national champion in 2019. Since then, however, he has focused more on road racing. Sunday’s race in Ljubljana was a low issue on the new 2.3 km long track with wooded half-bends and a full staircase, as it was banned from the public due to measures against the coronavirus.
Pogačar’s performance as a competitor wanted to draw attention to the sport, which has fewer followers in Slovenia than road and track cycling, and to support competitors from his youth and youth team Pogi Team Generali.
In addition to their own victory, Pogačar’s juniors did well at Ciklokros Ljubljana, placing on the podium in the boys’ category B and C. The second junior, Natan Gregorčič, placed second in the U17 category.
The route is part of a larger effort by KD Rog, the parent organization of Pogi Team Generali and UCI Continental Team Ljubljana Gusto Šantić, to expand cycling in the city of Ljubljana. The new president of the club, UAE Team Emirates sports director Andrej Hauptman, who came to the club alone, said CyclingNews over the phone that these plans included a new cycling center and a team under 23.
Despite today’s ban from viewers, a video from social networks showed Pogačar jumping on a bicycle and competently taking him up the stairs. Despite slipping on a few muddy corners and a bloodied nose, he crossed the finish line with a familiar triumphant smile.
Replacement of the road for mud – @TamauPogi won the Slovenian Cyclocross Cup in Ljubljana today! 🏆 #UAETeamEmirates #RideTogether pic.twitter.com/OBzEDguQ0kDecember 26, 2021
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