‘We will see on Monday’ – Tadej Pogačar teases Vuelta a España decision announcement as he wins home criterium in Komenda

Alongside conversations about La Vuelta, Pogačar has spent time resting at home in Slovenia since winning his fifth Tour de France, gearing up for the Tadej Pogačar Criterium in Komenda, which is enjoying its eighth edition.

He received a celebratory welcome home in Komenda on Thursday evening, hosting a press conference and entertaining the large gathered crowd with his unicycle skills.

On Friday evening, he lined up to race alongside UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammates Isaac del Toro, Felix Großschartner and Tim Wellens, as well as several other professionals and friends. The riders raced 35 laps of a 980-metre circuit around Komenda.

The three-day event continued with a family day on Saturday before Sunday’s race up the Krvavec climb, in which Pogačar will set off last, attempting to catch 1,177 riders ahead of him. The event is run in aid of the Tadej Pogačar foundation.

Speaking to the media, Pogačar talked about the challenges of racing the Tour and his need for recovery after spending a month in France.

“You somehow have to switch off, reset and give yourself at least a week after the Tour before you truly recover and return to reality,” he said.

“You spend a month in France, racing and living entirely inside that bubble. Before that, you also spend a month at a training camp. It all adds up, and when you finally return home, it can be quite a shock.”