Tadej Pogacar completes Tour de France build-up with National Road Race title

Tadej Pogacar completed his preparations for the Tour de France by winning the Slovenian National Road Race Championships for the first time in his career on Sunday.

Pogacar, 24, has had limited races in the build-up to the Tour de France after sustaining a broken wrist during the Liege-Bastogne-Liege classic at the end of April.

However, the UAE Team Emirates star, who will begin his bid for a third Tour title on Saturday, has made the most of his time at home in Slovenia, following up his dominant National Time Trial victory with his first win in the National Road Race.

Pogacar made his first significant move of the race when he attacked in the first hour of the 157-kilometre course, with only Jayco-AIUIa rider Luka Mezgec joining him for company. The pair continued to extend their lead, building a four-minute advantage over the field going into the final 15km.

Pogacar then shook off Mezgec on the final climb to claim the victory by 38 seconds. Bahrain-Victorious rider Matej Mohoric took bronze almost five minutes behind Pogacar.

“The team and I decided to make a selection at the very beginning of the race to reduce the bunch a bit," Pogacar said after his 14th win of the season and 60th of his career.

"It became quite selective and the World Tour riders came to the front. When I attacked it was still a long way to go. Every kilometre Luka [Mezgec] and I asked ourselves if this was wise just the two of us but we collaborated well. In the end we succeeded and I am very happy for this victory. It’s a nice boost ahead of the Tour next week.”

Ivo Oliveira won the Portuguese National Championship title, with his twin brother and teammate Rui Oliveira close behind in second place. Photo: UAE Team Emirates

Pogacar will now