On Thursday evening in Cham, Slovenian national coach Uros Murn sat alongside riders Tadej Pogacar and Primoz Roglic, who had between them dominated the three Grand Tours of the 2024 cycling season. In just under 15 minutes, the representatives of the rising cycling powerhouse nation briefed the global press ahead of the World Championships in Zurich, Switzerland.
It has to be said: the Slovenians made quite an impression. At the luxurious OYM sports center (On Your Marks), the federation unveiled their plans for the 2024 World Championships, as well as the Colnago bike Pogacar would be riding in the race. Notably, Roglic, riding for Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, had to step off the stage at that moment. He did so in typical Roglic fashion, rubbing his eyes as if wiping away tears—though with a smile and a wink, of course.
Roglic has been in Switzerland for a while, having already competed in Sunday’s time trial, where he placed 11th. “If I feel like I did during that time trial, it’s not going to help me much. It’s a different race, but you know what I want? To get some good rest and then prepare with the Slovenian team, which I’m happy to be a part of. We’re strong on paper, but we still need to show it in the race. We’ll see how it goes, day by day,” he said at the time.
Five days later, he was able to give an update on his form and Slovenia’s plans. But when it came to tactical questions, Roglic was quick to deflect. “That’s what we have a coach for, ask him. All these scenarios about what might happen, that’s not my thing. We’ve got Pogacar, who wins a lot of classics, whereas I only do a few per year.”
“But I feel good. How I’ll feel after 275 kilometers on Sunday, that’s a different story. That’s what makes it a challenge,” Roglic said. “The challenge of making the most of it together. On paper, we’re strong, but I’d rather be strong on the asphalt. That’s what matters to me.”
Finally, the two Slovenian stars were asked the hypothetical question: what would they do if they found themselves out front together? “Well, someone’s going to finish second, and someone’s going to finish first, but how? Maybe we’ll play a game,” Pogacar joked, pointing to “boss” Murn. The coach, however, wanted nothing to do with it. “For us, what matters is that someone finishes first. Who? We don’t care, we just want that rainbow jersey.”
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