Slovenian coach Uros Murn shed light on how Jan Tratnik’s quick-witted actions were pivotal in Tadej Pogacar’s triumph at the 2024 World Championships in Zurich, securing the coveted Rainbow Jersey. While Pogacar was undoubtedly the strongest rider in the race, pure strength alone doesn’t guarantee victory in cycling. Success demands a mix of tactical brilliance, fortune, and dedicated teammates, which Pogacar found in Tratnik.
Without team radios in World Championship road races, Pogacar’s bold attack with 100 kilometers remaining initially went unnoticed by Tratnik, who was in the breakaway group. In a captivating account shared with Wielerflits, Murn revealed how Tratnik’s instinct and racing intelligence led to a game-changing decision. Upon seeing the time gap between the breakaway and the peloton rapidly shrink, Tratnik sensed something significant unfolding.
“Jan noticed the lead time drop from two and a half minutes to one minute and twenty,” Murn explained. Realizing that Pogacar was making a decisive move, Tratnik sought confirmation from a motorbike nearby and was told that Pogacar was closing in, riding solo. Without hesitation, Tratnik sacrificed his personal ambitions, immediately stopped pedaling, and waited for Pogacar, ready to assist him. “Jan’s decision to wait and help makes him a true champion,” Murn reflected.
Murn also emphasized that the Slovenian team was at a strategic disadvantage compared to larger teams. “We don’t have the strongest riders, but we are smart,” Murn said with a smile, adding that they had agreed on a contingency plan for the race. Although Pogacar’s long-range attack wasn’t part of the original strategy, it aligned with the team’s belief in seizing opportunities. “Tadej knew it was the right moment and trusted he could finish it off. Jan’s presence in the breakaway gave us that chance. I expected him to make his move closer to the final lap, but when no one worked with Jan, Tadej went earlier than planned,” Murn concluded.
