The last straight line from Tadej Pogacar (23) to Liège-Bastogne-Liège on Sunday has unfortunately been disrupted. Last year’s winner boarded a plane this morning to his native Slovenia where the mother of his fiancée Urska Zigart has died. According to his employer UAE, he will be back on Belgian soil on Saturday to participate in La Doyenne a day later.
In principle, Tadej Pogacar will ride around on Sunday with number 1, but the Slovenian goldcrest will not be at the start with the ideal preparation.
Pogacar finished 12th on the Wall of Huy yesterday and this morning he unexpectedly boarded a plane to his home country Slovenia.
His employer UAE has been scant with comment, invoking “family reasons” to explain his unplanned return.
“Tadej will assist the family of his fiancée Urska Zigart,” it said this afternoon.
Last year Pogacar won Liège-Bastogne-Liège. “At the moment it is planned that he will return to Belgium on Saturday for the competition,” UAE said about his participation on Sunday.
(read the update from 11 p.m. below)
Fiance Urska Zigart’s Mom Has Died
Tadej Pogacar’s fiancé wrote on Instagram tonight that the couple had returned to Slovenia before her mother’s death.
“Life isn’t fair sometimes,” Urska Zigart, a BikeExchange rider herself, began her post.
“It is with great sadness that I have to share this news with you. My mom was my best friend and the most important person in my life.”
“This is a very difficult time for me and my family. Thank you for your messages and support.”
