Heartbreaking news: Tadej Pogačar has officially announced his retirement from Slovenian cycling shortly after the……….

Tadej Pogacar is making his return to competitive cycling for the first time since his Tour de France victory, aiming for wins in the Grand Prix races in Quebec and Montreal.

On September 12, 2024, UAE Team Emirates announced that the Slovenian cyclist will compete in Canada after skipping the Paris Olympics due to fatigue following his third Tour de France win in July.

Pogacar, the team leader, is the top contender to follow last year’s winners, Belgian Arnaud De Lie and Britain’s Adam Yates, in the demanding Quebec and Montreal circuits, which feature 16 and 17 laps respectively, with challenging climbs.

He is using these races to prepare for the world championships in Zurich from September 21 to 29, where he hopes to achieve a rare triple crown: the World Championship, Giro d’Italia, and Tour de France—an accomplishment only achieved by Stephen Roche and Eddy Merckx.

Reflecting on his decision to take a summer break, Pogacar said, “I spent time at home, went to the beach, something I hadn’t done in years. It was the right choice. My training has gone well, and my recovery races typically go smoothly.”

Among his rivals will be De Lie, who celebrated his first World Tour victory last year, along with Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe and Australian Michael Matthews.

These two Grand Prix events, the only World Tour races in North America, will also serve as a preview for the 2026 World Championships in Montreal.

Tadej Pogacar is making his return to competitive cycling for the first time since his Tour de France victory, aiming for wins in the Grand Prix races in Quebec and Montreal.

On September 12, 2024, UAE Team Emirates announced that the Slovenian cyclist will compete in Canada after skipping the Paris Olympics due to fatigue following his third Tour de France win in July.

Pogacar, the team leader, is the top contender to follow last year’s winners, Belgian Arnaud De Lie and Britain’s Adam Yates, in the demanding Quebec and Montreal circuits, which feature 16 and 17 laps respectively, with challenging climbs.

He is using these races to prepare for the world championships in Zurich from September 21 to 29, where he hopes to achieve a rare triple crown: the World Championship, Giro d’Italia, and Tour de France—an accomplishment only achieved by Stephen Roche and Eddy Merckx.

Reflecting on his decision to take a summer break, Pogacar said, “I spent time at home, went to the beach, something I hadn’t done in years. It was the right choice. My training has gone well, and my recovery races typically go smoothly.”

Among his rivals will be De Lie, who celebrated his first World Tour victory last year, along with Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe and Australian Michael Matthews.

These two Grand Prix events, the only World Tour races in North America, will also serve as a preview for the 2026 World Championships in Montreal.