CHAM (Switzerland) – It is clear that Slovenia is confident of becoming a great cycling nation when it is announced that Pogacar and Roglic's press conference will initially be held in SlovenianThe first 15 minutes for them and the next fifteen for us who instead resort to English.
Before the start, the microphone is handed over to Hans-Peter Strebel, a doctor who, together with two colleagues, developed a disease-modifying therapy for relapsing multiple sclerosis, which has benefited approximately 600.000 patients worldwide. He is the owner of OYM, the hotel for sportsmen where Slovenia is staying, full of sports facilities and a kitchen with 8 chefs and nutritionists who cook for the athletes.
Slovenia is growing
Then, after the well-deserved applause and his request to at least mention him, the flow of questions in Slovenian begins. Even though I record the answers to be deciphered with some providential translator, I can't help but look around and scrutinize the expressions on the faces of the two champions who will have to help each other on Sunday in the race or avoid stepping on each other's toes.
«The flow of journalists is for us – says the coach Uros Murn – every year I have to say that our national team growsEvery year we're getting better at attracting more and more attention, and I think this is a great sign for Slovenians and Slovenian cycling. We're all aware that something will need to be done in road racing, and I think on the one hand, this is a great challenge for them. On the other, I think need a little encouragement before perhaps the most important race of their careers».
World and classics
We start with pogacarThe room is an amphitheater, the riders are down on the seats. We all remember when Tadej, after his third place at the 2023 Glasgow World Championships, said he was devastated. The toughest race of his life.
«The World Championship is a very different competition – he says – it's a one-day competition with the national team, something we almost never do. Last year was one of the toughest races I've ever done, because it wasn't the right course for me. He was too explosive in the last three hours of the race, so I was really exhausted after the finish. This year, however, the course is much better, so we'll see what the race has in store.
"It's different from a classic. We race all year with the team. In theory you could compare monuments to world championships, but those are the ones you run with the team where your teammates might be better than those of the national team. These are different dynamics. Even the fact that you don't have radios in the race and that you race on a circuit It makes the difference compared to a race that takes place from one city to another."
A big goal
Roglic sitting next to him listens and must have understood that most of the questions will be for his young national teammate, who He already took the Tour away from him once and now he's taking away his lightWill they be able to coexist? And while we're reflecting on this, the question for Pogacar concerns the rainbow jersey.
"The rainbow jersey is something truly special in cycling," he admits. "The most unique jersey. I think everyone wants it. You can wear it all year round and it defines you as the best cyclist in the world.. So obviously it's been a big goal for me for a couple of years. I'll work hard at it. And if it's not this year, I'll try again in the next few years."
The precedent of Imola
Memory goes to when Pogacar and Roglic They met again on the national team at Imola 2020, just after Pogačar… snatched the yellow jersey. Even then, people were wondering how they'd get along, and now their curiosity is piqued. Will you work together? Roglic laughs and tries to deflect, then responds.
"If it's about tactics and things like that," he says, "I'm not the right guy, ask our coach. I think about all the scenarios that can happen and how we'll react. I have often told myself that Tadej is winning all the one-day races, so he is one of the bestI only do a couple a year, maybe not even that, so it's a nice challenge."
“We have a really strong team,” Pogacar adds. “Big names and a great team. I would say one of the best in the world everWe have two very strong cards, maybe even three, to play in the final. So I think we have an advantage in this, but we still have to be careful and run smart."
About Van der Poel
Again for Pogačar, who listened attentively to his first mentor's words. A Dutch colleague spoke and asked him if he thought Van der Poel could defend the rainbow jersey.
«Mathieu is in good shape – he says – and last year he won the rainbow jersey very well and he wore it just as wellHe's had some truly incredible victories, but Sunday is another race where he'll have to defend his title. It's a little tougher for him, there's a bit more uphill. I heard somewhere that he lost a kilo and a half, maybe he was good at preparing just for this raceWe'll see how it goes, we can't rule it out. We're definitely keeping him in mind for the finale; he could be dangerous if he wakes up on a good day.
«There are many climbs – he continues – none of them are really long. But even after the climb, there is no straight descent, so there is not much time to recover. I imagine many different scenarios, and among them I'd say there's plenty of room for long-range attacks or to make the race tougher. It's really hard to say which climb will make the difference, but I think the difference will be in the final kilometers."
About Hirschi
The conversation continues. They ask him how he would fare in a sprint finish, and he replies that he doesn't imagine a large group. And in any case, he adds that the sprint after 270 kilometers is something completely different compared to other situations. Rather, among the rivals to keep an eye on, Tadej has already included for some time Marc Hirschi, which will leave AUE Emirates at the end of the year, to join Tudor Pro Cycling. Then the attention falls on Roglic's feet, trying to understand how he feels.
"I feel good now," he replies. Seeing how I'll feel after 250 kilometers is definitely another matter. In the end, this week I did what I could to try to prepare well."
Fork in Evenepoel
The closing, before Pogacar stops to talk about the bike he will ride in the world championship, leads him to talk about Remco EvenepoelCome to think of it, this is the first time the two have faced each other in a one-day race, after Pogacar's crash in Liège two years ago and Remco's in the Basque Country in 2024.
«Remco seems super good at time trials – explains Pogacar – he also handled the pressure well after his chain slipped on the start line. From what I've read, he didn't have a power meter, so I imagine he prepared really well, especially for the time trial. It's the discipline in which he shines the most but I think that on Sunday it will be a different game».
