Pogacar on his pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but also the shadow this World Championship carries with it

The contenders saw all the colors of the rainbow on Sunday: Tadej Pogacar could not have more effectively claimed the World Championships in Zurich, Switzerland. D-Day became Ta-Day at Lake Zurich, where everyone agreed on one thing: we were dealing with a well-deserved world champion who spoke his mind at the closing press conference of the World Championship.

Somewhere in Cham, where the Slovenian team has been based for the past week, an alarm clock went off early Sunday morning. One of the three alarm clocks Tadej Pogacar had set to wake up in time for the World Cycling Championships in Switzerland. "But Tadej was so relaxed, so he kept lying down. Eventually, I had to wake him up," explained girlfriend Urska Zigart.

"I am not a morning person, and we did have to get up early," the 2024 world cycling champion commented. "But eventually, I had to get up. No stress. Now I'm sitting here," he said as king at his headquarters in Zurich's convention center. Because, at the end of the rainbow, you will always find a pot of gold, even if you have to force a hundred-kilometer attack.

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Lukáš Ronald Lukács

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Press conference Tadej Pogacar after cycling World Championship: what did the Slovenian have to say?

The world champion. What were you thinking when you launched your attack a hundred kilometers from the finish?

"It wasn't a panic attack but a stupid action. It was a hunch of the moment, and I felt good, so I thought, why not? I knew Jan Tratnik was in front, so I jumped over. It was a bit early, but there was no turning back. I didn't give up and kept believing in it all the way to the finish."

When did you decide to do that attack?

"This morning, it wasn't the plan, haha. Jan is a machine, a rider who can ride so hard. He gave me hope that it could be done, but it was indeed early. I had the confidence that I would not go over the limit, which turned out to be the case. Although Jan also did it perfectly because I had to close quite a big gap."

What goes through your mind at a time like that?

"You don't invent stupid actions; you just do them. At that moment itself, that's why it's ridiculous. But it worked, so it wasn't that stupid.

The Slovenian team was excellent. Everyone played their part in this win, and together, we worked towards this moment. I sincerely regret that we only ride together once or twice a year because it is such a great group with a lot of motivation."

Pavel Sivakov was with you briefly, your teammate from UAE-Team Emirates.

"I needed him, and he needed me. It was still a long way to the finish, and I would have liked to take him with me, but it may be too much for him. I have to thank him for the help, but I am also bummed that he doesn't have a medal. He certainly deserved that."

Were there any conversations in that chasing group?

"There was no need. Belgium was racing hard in the peloton, so we had to. Everyone knew what would happen when I jumped over Jan, but they still kept up well with me."

In the last lap, your advantage did diminish. Were you aware of that?

"Yes, because I was getting good information. But I knew the guys behind me would also be tired, so a gap of that kind is significant, especially on a hilly course; you can't just take five or ten seconds back. Besides, there is often no good teamwork in the chasing group, at least that's what you hope for.

I, too, was empty, but I knew the course well. I felt it in my body, and I couldn't stand on the pedals anymore, but I persevered."

Who scared you the most?

"Anyone who could close the gap or cooperate. When I started the last lap, I did try to save some energy. After all, I knew that those first 10 minutes of the last round would be the most important and that after that, it would get a little easier."

How did you receive that communication since you were riding without earpieces?

"The people on the motorcycles did a good job, and I got a difference every two minutes, but I also heard about the lead through the water bottles I was handed. That also allowed me to calculate where I should go full throttle and where I could slow down a bit."

How important is this win for you?

"Very important. In the last kilometers, it was unbelievable. I saw my teammates and Urska at the finish line, which was very special. Then I had all the interviews, after which I cried every time. I didn't even dare to dream of this jersey when I was little. In recent years, the World Championship has always been a big goal, but I was never prepared for it until this year. Even though I really wanted it. This is more than a dream come true; I can't wait to ride in the jersey."

When will we see you in the jersey for the first time? In the Italian races Emilia, Tre Valli Varesine and Lombardy?

"Things can always change, but I'm not concerned with my program. As long as I can still wear my jersey this year."

Finally, this World Championship is overshadowed by Muriel Furrer's death. How did that get to you, and what needs to happen?

"First of all, I want to say that it is especially terrible for Muriel's loved ones. It is a great loss for the cycling world. Everyone at the start of the races on Saturday and Sunday was with Muriel in their thoughts. It's a tragedy, but it's hard to say what to do. Cycling is a dangerous sport, and too much has happened in recent years; it's obviously getting more dangerous. We have to look out for each other."

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