How Tour de France winner Tadej Pogacar's competitive streak was honed - on a scrabble board

Tadej Pogacar’s parents have revealed that the five-time Tour de France winner always had a competitive streak - even when it came to family games of scrabble when he was growing up in Slovenia - in a new documentary on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

Anatomy of a G.O.A.T - Don't miss our new Pogacar documentary

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Pogacar, preparing to return to competitive action next season after recovering from surgery following the "scary" crash which ended his La Vuelta challenge, has spoken in depth about his remarkable career.

His mother and father, Marjeta and Mirko, have also given an insight into the 28-year-old in Anatomy of a G.O.A.T, which will be shown on TNT Sports 1 at 15:15 UK time on Saturday. It will also be available on HBO Max.

And Marjeta reveals that the whole family has a competitive streak.

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She said: "I think we were all very competitive - even playing Scrabble or board games, or playing ball games, it was always a competition. Not just Tadej, but the whole family."

Pogacar's drive and athleticism quickly took him to the top of cycling.

Inigo San Millan, Pogacar’s former coach, spoke about the first test he did when he joined UAE Team Emirates-XRG in late 2018.

'He wanted to be like me' - Mezgec reflects on being Pogacar's inspiration

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Asked if that was the moment he realised he was special, and could become a great champion, Pogacar said: "No, I never thought that tests were like the true indicator of how prospective you are, because we all do great tests in one hour on the home trainer.

"I know a lot of guys that did crazy tests, crazy numbers and training, and then in a race or on the road they don't do the same.

"So when I joined the UAE team, I knew that now I'm at the highest level, I need to do the best, and with races like Algarve [1st in 2019] and California [1st in 2019], I saw that I can do some good things."

Pogacar won his first Tour de France in 2020, aged 21. He has made the race his own in this decade.

However, Pogacar said: "I never thought that I can win the Tour de France. It was a slow process, but, in the end, it went too fast for me."

Asked if he trained more than other riders, he said: "No, I don't know, probably not. Probably I don't train the most in the gym or on the bike. There's always going to be somebody who trains harder and more than me, probably."

Pogacar has his sights on more titles in 2027, but does he want to win everything?

"No, I would not say I want to win everything," he said. "But after so many questions from journalists about what I want to achieve, it would be nice to add some other races from the World Tour to the palmares.

"But no rush, no stress, just live in the moment, and go from race to race and whatever comes next, I will be grateful."

Has Tour de France 2027 route been designed to give Pogacar’s rivals a chance?

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Pogacar is known for giving his race water bottles to young fans along the routes of his races.

"When I was a kid, I was also happy when somebody noticed me," he said. "It doesn't necessarily mean that they give you an autograph or a bottle - even if they just looked at us and waved, it was already like, 'wow!'.

"I remember when Luka Mezgec won the last stage of the Giro [2014], we were there as kids, going from bus to bus asking for bottles afterwards, and we got a lot.

"I kept those bottles for so many years, and I think if I can make some kid happy like that, I feel really good."

'Cheerful, happy child'

Carefree Pogacar used to sing when he mowed the lawn, Marjeta revealed.

"He was always a very cheerful, very happy child," she said. "He always enjoyed everything he did - even when mowing the lawn he would sing, he would listen to music.

"He really did things with pleasure. And I always say that this is a way everyone should copy - do everything you do with pleasure, singing and laughing. Life would be much easier and more beautiful."

Today, fun and enjoyment are still important to Pogacar in his professional career as he pursues his dreams.

"It's very important," he said. "When you enjoy doing this sport, I think the results will come as well. Once you stop having fun, I think you need to find something else that will make you happy."

This view on life is echoed by Mirko, who added: "I think that whatever you do with your heart and with pleasure, you do much better."

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