Tadej Pogacar, the 25-year-old Slovenian cycling sensation, has withdrawn from the 2024 Paris Olympics due to extreme fatigue, as announced by the Slovenian Olympic Committee on Monday. This decision comes just days after Pogacar’s historic third Tour de France victory, which followed his earlier triumph in the Giro d’Italia. By winning both Grand Tours in the same year, Pogacar achieved a feat not accomplished since Marco Pantani in 1998.The withdrawal appears to be due to a combination of physical exhaustion and personal reasons. Uros Murn, the selector of the Slovenian Olympic team, stated that Pogacar is in ‘an extreme state of exhaustion’. However, there are indications that Pogacar’s decision may also be influenced by his disappointment over the non-selection of his fiancée, Urska Zigart, for the Slovenian women’s cycling team. Pogacar had previously expressed being ‘angry’ and ‘speechless’ about this decision on social media.Despite his withdrawal from the Olympics, Pogacar’s ambitions remain high. He is now setting his sights on the World Championships in Zurich this September, where he hopes to achieve the rare ‘triple crown’ of Giro d’Italia, Tour de France, and World Championship victories in the same year. If successful, he would join cycling legends Stephen Roche and Eddy Merckx as the only riders to accomplish this feat.Pogacar’s place in the Olympic road race, scheduled for August 3, will be taken by his teammate Domen Novak. The Slovenian Olympic Committee expressed their support for Pogacar’s decision, congratulating him on his Tour de France victory and wishing him well.This turn of events marks a significant shift from the previous update, where Pogacar was expected to be a top contender in the Olympic cycling events. It also highlights the physical and mental toll of competing at the highest level in professional cycling, even for a rider of Pogacar’s exceptional abilities.
Key points
- Tadej Pogacar has withdrawn from the 2024 Paris Olympics due to extreme fatigue after winning both the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France.
- Pogacar’s decision may also be influenced by personal reasons, including disappointment over his fiancée’s non-selection for the Olympic team.
- Pogacar is now focusing on the World Championships, aiming for a rare ‘triple crown’ of Giro, Tour, and World Championship victories.
Contradictions👾While most sources cite extreme fatigue as the primary reason for Pogacar’s withdrawal, some suggest that personal reasons, particularly the non-selection of his fiancée for the Olympics, may have played a significant role in his decision.
