Tadej Pogačar’s 2024: Eyes Set on Zurich and Beyond
Tadej Pogačar has had a remarkable and intense 2024 season, characterized by his relentless pursuit of victory across multiple races. As the year nears its final stretch, Pogačar has recalibrated his focus, setting his sights on two crucial objectives: the UCI World Championships in Zurich and the prestigious Il Lombardia, a monument that has become one of his favorite hunting grounds.
Following an exhausting mid-season that saw him battling it out at the Tour de France, Pogačar has opted for a more strategic approach to his race calendar for the remainder of the year. A brief period of rest, after the physical and emotional demands of the Tour, was essential for the Slovenian superstar as he readies himself for the upcoming challenges.
Pogačar has identified the UCI World Championships in Zurich as his primary goal for the latter half of 2024. With his exceptional all-around capabilities, he is viewed as a major contender for the rainbow jersey, especially on a course that promises a mix of challenging climbs and technical descents—terrain that suits him perfectly.
Zurich’s route is expected to favor those with both climbing prowess and tactical intelligence, a combination that Pogačar has repeatedly demonstrated. His aggressive racing style, coupled with his ability to gauge when to attack and when to conserve energy, has often given him the edge in one-day races.
Skipping the Vuelta a España was a tough decision for Pogačar, but it was one he made in consultation with his team at UAE Team Emirates. The Vuelta is a grueling three-week test, and Pogačar, aware of the need to peak at the right moments, chose instead to focus entirely on the World Championships. This choice reflects his desire to arrive in Zurich in peak condition, fully refreshed and ready to take on a world-class field of riders.
Pogačar has been methodical in his preparation for Zurich, balancing recovery with high-intensity training. He will use two WorldTour races in Canada—the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec and the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal—as key stepping stones in his build-up to the Worlds. These one-day races will allow him to sharpen his form against strong competition while ensuring that he doesn’t overexert himself too early.
By opting out of the Vuelta, Pogačar is signaling his commitment to the World Championships and Il Lombardia, both of which are high on his list of priorities for the season. The Vuelta, while an important race in its own right, demands a different kind of preparation and recovery, particularly for a rider who has already faced the physical toll of the Tour de France. In past seasons, some riders have attempted to combine a full Tour and Vuelta campaign with the World Championships, but it’s a difficult balance, and Pogačar has chosen a more focused approach.
Instead, his time post-Tour has been devoted to rest and recovery, with a specific focus on shorter, high-intensity efforts that will serve him well in one-day races like the Worlds and Il Lombardia. Pogačar’s decision also reflects the influence of his team, who understand the importance of managing their star rider’s workload. With a career as bright as Pogačar’s, there is no need to stretch him thin across too many objectives.
The other major race on Pogačar’s radar is Il Lombardia, the final Monument of the season, which he has already won twice in his career (2021 and 2022). Known as the “Race of the Falling Leaves,” Il Lombardia holds a special place in Pogačar’s heart, not only for its storied history but for its demanding course, which requires a combination of endurance, climbing strength, and tactical nous.
As with the World Championships, Pogačar will face stiff competition at Il Lombardia, but his previous victories give him a psychological edge. He knows the roads well, and his ability to read the race in its crucial moments has often been the deciding factor. Having already achieved monumental success there, Pogačar is motivated to end his season on a high by securing another victory in the Italian classic.
Il Lombardia also offers the ideal opportunity for Pogačar to consolidate his place among the sport’s greats. Adding another Monument to his palmarès would elevate his already extraordinary 2024 season and provide him with momentum heading into 2025.
Pogačar’s decision to compete in the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec and the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal is a critical part of his build-up to Zurich. Both races, held on demanding circuits in Canada, provide the perfect platform for riders seeking to hone their form ahead of the World Championships. The punchy, undulating courses will allow Pogačar to test his legs in competition while refining his race-day strategy.
In the past, these Canadian races have attracted strong fields, giving Pogačar the chance to measure himself against many of the same riders he will face in Zurich. By racing here, Pogačar can also fine-tune his explosive power and endurance, both of which will be essential in the final, decisive moments of the World Championships.
The timing of these races is also ideal, falling just a few weeks before Zurich, allowing Pogačar to push himself in high-level competition before tapering his efforts in the final days leading into the Worlds. His performance in Canada will be closely watched, as it will offer a preview of his form heading into his primary objective.
As 2024 draws to a close, Pogačar’s ambitions will not stop with Zurich and Il Lombardia. Already a two-time Tour de France champion, Pogačar continues to set his sights on expanding his legacy in cycling. His versatility as a rider makes him a constant threat in a wide range of races, from Monuments to Grand Tours, and his tactical intelligence ensures that he is always in contention.
While 2024 has been a year marked by highs and challenges, Pogačar’s focus remains unwavering. He has become a master of preparation, knowing when to push his limits and when to step back. This balance has allowed him to sustain his form across an entire season, making him one of the most feared and respected riders in the peloton.
With his primary focus now on Zurich, and Il Lombardia looming on the horizon, Tadej Pogačar’s 2024 campaign is far from over. If his preparation goes as planned, we can expect to see him once again at the forefront of cycling’s most prestigious races, continuing to build a career that already ranks among the sport’s greats.
