‘My Shape Is Really Bad’: Tadej Pogačar Sorry/Not Sorry to Miss Euro Champs

There was much chatter recently that Tadej Pogačar might defy team orders and ride the European championships, both to defend his title and also because it was held in his home country of Slovenia.

His team denied it and said his recovery was too important, and so it proved: the 28 year old was at the race, but only as a guest.

Winning a major title on home soil is likely a once in a lifetime possibility for a Slovenian but, in this case at least, it’s one ambition he may have to let go of.

Ditto for his partner Urška Žigart, who is also sidelined after a jawbone fracture reoccurred again.

“For sure even yesterday when we were watching the women’s race, Urška was like, ‘damn, I should be there,” Pogačar told Eurosport after the finish of Sunday’s race.

“Especially she has been feeling super good so it is tough. When you have good shape it is tough to look at the race and know you could be part of it.”

Pogačar has been in dominant form this year, winning a record-equaling fifth Tour de France plus multiple other races. He looked to be en route for victory at the Vuelta a España but crashed heavily on stage 8 and withdrew.

He was diagnosed with a fractured vertebra and collarbone, as well as concussion. And while he’s recovered rapidly from that fall, he’s also realistic about how he would have got on had he defied his team and ridden on Sunday.

“Today I am riding my bike for one week now outside. I know my shape is really bad,” he said. “I don’t wish to be riding out today. But one week ago or two weeks ago, I would be really eager to be on the start today.”

Heading Down Under?

The question of when Pogačar will be on a startline again still remains to be seen.

El Pais recently suggested he would contradict UAE Team Emirates-XRG advice and line out in the European championships, something the team denied.

And while he ultimately didn’t take part in the race, the Spanish publication stated that competing in the Santos Tour Down Under would be the team’s preferred first race back.

That’s something we at Velo previously argued, noting that both the rider himself and Pogačar’s own agent Alex Carera had said earlier this season that the Slovenian was planning to ride—and win—the race at some point in the coming years.

He has made winning every WorldTour stage race a big career goal and the early finish to his racing in 2026 seems to tee things up perfectly for an early season start.

Such a buildup could also put him in prime form for Paris-Roubaix, a race he has been trying to win.

You can see those arguments here.

Velo reached out in recent weeks to the race organisers, to Carera and to UAE Team Emirates-XRG.

His agent didn’t reply as yet, but Santos Tour Down Under organisers were non-committal about the prospect of him competing there.

“Our only thought right now, like every cycling fan in the world, is for Tadej and Urska in their recovery from their injuries,” a spokesperson told Velo in late August. “We hope to see them back on their bike soon and wish them all the best, but anything beyond that is secondary to their health and wellbeing.”

That’s not a no, and not a yes either.

What about his team?

A spokesperson in recent days said it was far too early to get confirmation of his plans, noting that the first indications of his schedule would be given out at the team’s December camp.

He may well decide to head to Australia, a race he previously rode in 2019. But it seems confirmation of that is still a couple of months away.

For now, watching races and rebuilding his fitness will be as close as he will get to pinning on a number.