Tadej Pogacar, the winner of the Tour de France, will not participate in the Paris 2024 Olympics, as announced by the Slovenian Olympic Committee [OKS] on Monday.
The Slovenian Olympic Committee stated that Pogacar, who claimed victory in his third Tour de France on Sunday and also won the Tour and Giro d’Italia in 2024, was not chosen due to tiredness.
Tadej Pogacar wraps up Tour de France victory to seal historic double Read more
The coach of the men’s cycling team announced the competitors for the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris. “Tadej Pogacar will not be among them as he is too tired,” stated the OKS.
“His national team colleague Domen Novak will take his place,” the statement included. “We extend our congratulations to the champion of the competition through France for securing another win in the most esteemed cycling event globally, and we look forward to seeing him showcase Slovenia’s colors at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.”
The individual, who is 25 years old, has previously triumphed in one-day classics such as the Tour of Flanders, the Giro di Lombardia, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. He was considered a top contender, along with Mathieu van der Poel from the Netherlands, for the 225 km Olympic road race around Paris on 3 August.
Ecuador did not choose Richard Carapaz, the defending Olympic champion and winner of the mountains classification at the Tour de France this year.
After being the first man since Marco Pantani in 1998 to win both the Giro and Tour in the same season, Pogacar is now aiming for the world road race championship in September.
Pogacar has no plans to participate in the Vuelta a España this year, despite the opportunity to achieve a historic hat-trick in the three Grand Tours. Pogacar mentioned that he definitely considered participating in the Vuelta, as others advise you to try different things. “But I’m attempting to ignore it completely.”
Instead of that, Tadej Pogačar is ambitiously pursuing the prestigious “triple crown” of cycling, a rare and illustrious achievement that entails winning the Giro d’Italia, the Tour de France, and the World Road Race Championship. To complete this historic feat, Pogačar is focusing on the upcoming World Road Race Championship in Zurich. Last year, he demonstrated his formidable talent by finishing in third place, while Mathieu van der Poel claimed the gold medal and the coveted rainbow jersey. The rainbow jersey symbolizes the world champion title and is one of the most sought-after honors in the sport. Pogačar’s quest for the triple crown underscores his relentless pursuit of excellence and his desire to etch his name alongside the sport’s legends. His remarkable consistency and prowess in both grand tours and one-day classics make him a leading contender for this ambitious goal.
Pogacar expressed his desire to end the season on a high note by having a great August, taking some time to rest, getting ready for the world championships, and giving his best performance. I acknowledge that Mathieu wears the rainbow jersey well, but I desire to claim it for myself.
The remarkable achievement of winning the Giro d’Italia, the Tour de France, and the World Road Race title in a single career has only been accomplished twice in the history of men’s professional cycling. Belgian cycling legend Eddy Merckx achieved this rare feat in 1974, solidifying his status as one of the greatest cyclists of all time. Stephen Roche of Ireland joined Merckx in this elite club in 1987, showcasing his exceptional versatility and endurance. This extraordinary accomplishment underscores the immense talent and dedication required to excel across these prestigious and demanding races, each representing a pinnacle of cycling success.
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