What does it represent? Tadej pogacar for his country? The successes of the all-conquering champion have significantly influenced the evolution of sports perception in Slovenia. which is mainly thanks to him (and in the female field to the successes of Anja Garnbret (in freeclimbing) is no longer seen only as a nation strong in winter sports and that's it. This perception was also discussed Jacob Omrzel.
We are talking about one of the most prominent young players on the international scene this season, with his success at the Giro NextGen and the conquest of the white jersey as best young rider at the Tour of Slovenia and Croatia (a combination that could not go unnoticed given the relations between the two countries, starting with the photo of Omrzel in Croatia) and the title of national champion which earned him the signing of a contract with the team Bahrain Victorious. The nineteen-year-old from Novo Mesto is not defined only by his results, but above all by his attitude towards sport and life. and in an extensive interview with Siol.net, an important national website, also touched on the topic of the indirect relationship with the world number one, through a chat that also touched on sensitive topics.
«I want to be “just” Omrzel…»
«It often happens that we are compared to him, this is a law to which every Slovenian cyclist almost succumbs. But I don't want to be "like" Tadej, I just want to be Jakob Omrzel, to be compared to myselfI certainly admire Tadej and there are aspects that inspire me, first and foremost the discipline. Tadej dedicates all his time to cycling. I think I can learn a lot from this and I try to follow his example. He also likes to ride in his free time: everything depends on cycling, nutrition, rest, training... If you want to be the best, you can't ignore this."
Omrzel completely unplugged at the end of the season, to recharge his batteries and approach the new season in the best possible way, his first "among the big boys": «I realize how important it is to truly take this time to rest. I try to do as little physical activity as possible and at the same time take my mind off the bike.. Then I slowly start running, walking or mountain biking again."
The importance of the Slovenian champion's jersey
An important year awaits him, first of all because he will enter the highest level wearing the national champion's jersey which also represents something that always keeps you in the spotlight: «It's true and I'm really proud of it, because it gives a special feeling and at the same time it's an additional incentive.You know you're competitive and you're where you are for a reason, for something you've done, but most of all, for something you represent."
But not everything went smoothly. Highly anticipated at the Tour de l'Avenir after his victory at the Giro NextGen, he wasn't a factor in his victory: "I think moments of disappointment are the most important in sport," Omrzel responds frankly and maturely. When everything goes according to plan and everything is perfect, nothing is difficult for you: you feel satisfaction when you achieve a good result.But it's completely different when things don't go well, as happened at the Giro della Valle d'Aosta. It's precisely from moments of crisis and the attempt to overcome them that you learn the most. I realized that it's very difficult to reach two peaks of form in one season. In France I didn't feel at my best; I had to recover my form, and I was precisely in that phase where I wasn't at my best. But the situation improved towards the end of the season, culminating in the Tour of Croatia.
The Privitera tragedy, an enormous burden
Omrzel does not mention the Giro della Valle d'Aosta by chance, because that race, for him as for all the others in the race, it was never the same again after the tragic end of Samuel PriviteraThat was the main factor: something that completely knocks you down. Especially mentally. I learned a lot from that experience, especially about how my body reacted in that moment and how I perceived events. If I had to choose, I'd say this was the most difficult race I've ever experienced. I have to thank my coach. Alessio Mattiussi. He was the one who came to my room and talked to me. Without him, I probably wouldn't have continued the race.Alessio is, in a way, my counterbalance. In moments when I might be a little bitter about my life, he tells me how things are and thus calms the situation. I think he plays a very important role in my career."
The Slovenian “clan” at Bahrain Victorious
Another important aspect for Omrzel, which pushed him to continue his experience at Bahrain by making the direct jump to the first team, was the fact of being able to team up with his compatriots: «There is Zak Erzen with which we grew up togetherAdria Mobil and we're great friends, we're together practically every day and the fact that we'll now also be teammates is the best thing. Even the team mechanic, Aljaz Zefran, he's a good friend, and My brother Aljaz drives the team bus, so we're all together, which is great.It's easier to release tension when you have a supportive environment."
The role of captain, which he has held several times this season, doesn't scare him: "Being able to bond with the team, stay calm, and make quick decisions is an important factor. It took a bit of getting used to, but when you build a bond with the guys and a positive atmosphere within the team, then it's not difficult at all. But being an assistant isn't difficult either. At the Tour of Slovenia and Croatia, I even said I have no problem helping others. The important thing is that I know I can still learn a lot and improve."
Goal: improve time trial performance
Much to improve also in its performance: «In almost every respect. This year I didn't dedicate much time to the time trial, for example, simply because there wasn't enough time.Next season, I'll have to delve much deeper into this discipline. It will be important to build a good calendar, but I don't think there will be any disagreements about the composition of the program. We know I'm still young and that participating in the Grand Tours at this stage would still be pointless. If I want to have a quality career that lasts a long time, then I think there's nothing wrong with waiting a little longer. It's better to focus on one-week races than to overtake with three-week races.
