Tadej Pogacar was nowhere to be found in Scotland on Friday: he took part neither in the reconnaissance of the online portion of the course, in the heart of the great plains on the border of the Highlands, nor on the funny circuit traced in the heart of Glasgow and open two hours to the runners at the end of the morning, nor even to the hotel where his selection is staying this weekend. And at the end of the afternoon, during the press briefing organized by his Federation, it was his teammates Luka Mezgec and Domen Novak who presented themselves to the Slovenian journalists.
After a long hesitation, Pogacar will therefore be part of the World Cup, an event where he has never shone before, and his presence in Scotland is both a blessing for the event and the umpteenth proof that the phenomenon is done. from another wood since with Valentin Madouas, he will be the only member of the top 20 of the Grande Boucle at the start of the race.
“We don’t have as strong a squad as some big nations but we will adapt”
Slovenia coach Uros Murn
However, the Slovenian will not be as well surrounded as the other top names in the peloton, far from it. “We don’t have a workforce as strong as some big nations but we will adapt”, replies the coach, deprived of Primoz Roglic, who is preparing the Vuelta, and especially of Matej Mohoric, who withdrew, arguing that the national workforce was insufficiently provided and would not allow him to play for the win on a course that suited him perfectly… “With Matej, we would have been much more competitive, regrets Murn. But the circuit will please Pogacar. There are several difficult hills where he can make the selection. The harder the race, the better for him. »
And if many were surprised to have seen him packing for Glasgow rather than for a distant island in the Pacific to relax there after his tumultuous summer, Thomas Voeckler judges that the Slovenian, an outstanding pilot, would have been wrong to miss such a chance. “Punchers like him will have a great time on this circuit, he judges. Pogacar can be world champion. No doubt about it. »
