Tadej Pogacar targets 'even better' 2025 as he reveals race he 'really wants to win' and reacts to Tour de France route
Published 12/11/2024 at 16:17 GMT
Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) had a season to remember as he won the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and World Championship road race. Could he do even better in 2025? The 26-year-old has spoken about his ambitions for next season as well as some of his main goals. He has also given his view on the route for the 2025 Tour de France next summer.
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Tadej Pogacar has revealed his ambitions to improve on a golden 2024 season as he looks set to compete at two Grand Tours again next year.
Pogacar had a year for the ages as he became the first rider since 1987 to win the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and World Championship road race in the same season.
He also scooped up two Monuments and in total finished with 25 victories. Despite his domination, UAE Team Emirates star Pogacar is hoping for even better in 2025.
"So far, each season has been better than the last," he told RTVSlo. "I hope the next one will be even better.
"I look forward to new challenges. I like to test myself on the bike and enjoy nature. It's not hard to motivate yourself."
How Pogacar improves on near-perfection remains to be seen. He is set to again ride at two of the three Grand Tours - the Giro or the Vuelta a Espana alongside the Tour de France - and says Milan–San Remo is one of his big goals.
"I can't reveal much about the program yet, we'll talk about it in December or later. We're quite flexible about my program. The UAE Tour is a suitable race to start with," he told Ekipa.
"This season's performance on two Grand Tours worked out well, and I think I will continue in a similar rhythm for a few more years.
"I'm especially itching for the races I haven't won yet. Milan-San Remo is a big cross I carry. It's a race I really want to win.”
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Pogacar will be aiming to win a fourth Tour de France title next summer. If he does triumph again, he would move alongside Chris Froome in the all-time standings and would be one behind those at the summit, including Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault.
Asked for his view on the route for the 2025 Tour de France, Pogacar said: "Every year there is speculation as to who the route is designed for, who is more suited to it. We look at the Grand Tour itself as a 21-stage long race.
"You can't do otherwise than to have something for everyone. Something for sprinters, a couple of time trials, a few mountain stages. This Tour is like any other. Hard stages, a little stressful stages. In any case, you have to be focused and in shape.
"I don't worry too much about the route, but it doesn't mean I don't want to know it, as usual I'll check out some slopes."
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Stream the 2025 cycling season, including the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes, live on discovery+
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