Two-time UAE Tour winner Tadej Pogacar eyeing Tour de France hat-trick

With the pressure of retaining his UAE Tour crown behind him, UAE Team Emirates star Tadej Pogacar’s next goal is completing a hat-trick of Tour de France titles.

The Slovenian, 23, won the seventh and final stage of the UAE Tour from Adam Yates of Ineos Grenadiers at the summit of Jebel Hafeet on Saturday.

“I want to enjoy this career in cycling as long as possible,” Pogacar told The National as he helped to launch a new cycling academy programme by Aldar, in partnership with UAE Team Emirates, at Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, on Sunday.

“I’m in good shape and good races are coming, so I say to myself just go and enjoy the races. I love cycling and I love racing. That’s my goal, to enjoy what I’m doing now."

Pogacar revealed that winning the UAE Tour for the second time was the team’s big goal from the start of the season.

“We have been preparing hard for this race,” he said. “And now we have done it, we are really proud and happy to win our home race.

“With this race behind us, there is no pressure any more. There is always a bit of pressure when you know you are defending a title, especially when it’s the home event for a home team, it’s really important.

“You need to bring the A game to the table in such races. I put some pressure on myself trying to do my best, and when you do your best you cannot do anything else. You don’t have to regret on anything.”

The UAE Team Emirates rider believes the team is “super strong” this year and is in good shape to win a lot titles.

“We have some new faces in the team and we understand each other really well,” he said.

“As teammates we fit in perfectly. This year we are going to be super strong, and for me, the main objective is the Tour de France, followed by the Vuelta a Espana.”

Aldar