A week after romping to the world title, cycling superstar Tadej Pogacar expects a closer fight at the European road race championships in France on Sunday, with rivals Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel looming.
The Slovenian said he liked the look of the hilly course in the Drome and Ardeche departments – known for lavender fields and stunning gorges – and was especially motivated to be competing alongside his girlfriend Urska Zigart, who races in the women's event on Saturday.
Pogacar famously pulled out of last year's Paris Olympic Games – citing extreme fatigue – after Slovenia overlooked Zigart for their women's team despite the fact that she was the reigning road race and time trial national champion.
But this time, he is delighted to have her by his side.
"We share the trip, the room, the time, I really appreciate these moments with Urska," Pogacar said.
"Being with the Slovenian team is nice too. It's a good team, I'm looking forward to racing with them, I haven't had much chance in recent years," he said.
The 27-year-old admitted that winning the Europeans was "not the target of anyone in their career goals" amid a packed calendar, but that he liked the course in this edition.
'SHORTER, MORE EXPLOSIVE'
Sunday's men's race is just 202km, some 65km shorter than the men's world title race in Kigali last week.
"It's much shorter, it'll be more explosive with steep climbs that are not too long and a lot more guys will be fighting in the finish than at the world championships," said Pogacar, whose long-range attack in Rwanda left all his major rivals floundering.
The two main challengers in France will be two-time Tour de France winner Vingegaard and Belgian double Olympic gold medallist Evenepoel.
The Belgian pulverised Pogacar in the world championships time trial two weeks ago, but finished a distant second to him in the road race after suffering from mechanical issues.
"He showed last Sunday how good he is coming second after two bike changes, he has the shape and he's always mentally eager. He's gonna be really good Sunday," said Pogacar.
Vingegaard won the recent Vuelta a Espana a month after finishing runner up to the Slovenian master in the Tour. The climbing specialist rarely tackles one day races, but this one is "a good climbers' course" according to Pogacar.
"If he's here, then he's going to be really good," Pogacar said. "Denmark have a strong team. The French could do something special, lots of young riders."
France's 19-year-old Paul Seixas will be the youngest man in the field, a week after coming 13th in the worlds in Kigali. They also have Romain Gregoire, who won the Tour of Britain in September, aged just 22.
On the other end of the age scale is Portugal's Rui Costa, who turns 39 on Sunday and will be supporting Joao Almeida, runner up at the Vuelta and winner in 2025 of three week-long races.
"It's going to be a very nice race," said Almeida. "Don't forget Vingegaard, maybe we'll even see Remco attack and not wait to follow Pogacar," he said.
Pogacar remains, however, the man to beat.
"It's deep in the season, I've had a long, long trip, but I feel really good and I'm happy to be here and test my legs again," Pogacar said on Friday.