‘He wanted to be like me’ – Mezgec reflects on being Pogacar’s inspiration
Video credit: TNT Sports
The 28-year-old suffered a season-ending injury while competing in La Vuelta in August.Pogacar – who had been chasing a full set of Grand Tour victories – went on to have surgery on his collarbone.And the UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider revealed at a charity golf event in Volcji Potok, Slovenia, that he is back in training after recovering from the surgery.”Most of our team are still in this season, but I’ve actually already finished my break between seasons,” he told RTV Slovenia.
He added: “I’ve now been training regularly for a week, which is a month earlier than in previous years.”
Pogacar also spoke about his three main targets for next season.
He said: “The desire for next year would, of course, be the World Championships combined with the Tour [de France] and the Vuelta.”
‘There’s a hierarchy’ – Blythe says McNulty, Pogacar dynamic at UAE is now ‘strange’
Video credit: TNT Sports
Pogacar, however, has work to do, having not been able to sit on a bike for five weeks following the crash on Stage 8 of La Vuelta.
UAE announced in September that Pogacar’s season was over in the wake of the crash.
He considered defending his road-race title at the UEC Road European Championships in his native Slovenia, but was not on the start line in a race won by Remco Evenepoel.
“Because the injury was quite serious, it took me quite a while to get out on the bike –
five weeks,” said Pogacar.
“When my shoulder healed, and I no longer had any consequences or dizziness, I started training… with the thought that I could go to the European Championships, which gave me additional motivation for rehabilitation.
”But still, a little over two weeks before the European Championships, the time came to realise that there was no point in racing, because if I fell again, the consequences could be really serious. It wasn’t worth the risk.”
He also confirmed that a “big rock” had led to his crash at La Vuelta, describing other theories as “fake news”.
Pogacar signed a contract extension keeping him with UAE until 2032 following the crash.
Speaking in September, he said: “From the beginning, this team has felt like home for me.
“We have grown together over the years and shared some incredible moments, so I’m very happy to extend my contract until 2032.
“There is still a lot I want to achieve in this sport and I believe this is the right place to do it. I’m very grateful for the trust the team has shown in me and excited about what we can continue to build together.”
Pogacar will take part in the charity BeKing Monaco criterium event on November 29.
Download the TNT Sports app on iPhone and Android.Watch and stream elite cycling, including the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and La Vuelta, with TNT Sports on HBO Max.