Tadej Pogačar Admits Mistake After Missing Out on Victory at GP Québec in His First Race Since Tour de France

Tadej Pogačar Reflects on Missed Opportunity at GP Québec: “I Made the Wrong Decision”

Tadej Pogačar’s return to racing after a 54-day break since the Tour de France didn’t go as planned at the Grand Prix de Québec. The Slovenian star, racing for UAE Team Emirates, finished in seventh place and admitted to making a tactical error by not attacking earlier in the final kilometers. After breaking away with three Lotto Dstny riders, Pogačar hesitated, allowing the peloton to catch up and secure the victory for Michael Matthews (Jayco AlUla).

Pogačar launched a strong attack 2.2km from the finish line, a move that was quickly followed by Lotto Dstny’s Arnaud De Lie and two teammates, which neutralized his chance for a solo win. With the peloton closing in, Pogačar had to decide whether to attack again on the uphill finish or bet on his sprint. Before he could make his move, the chasing group made contact, ending his hopes of a victory.

Reflecting on the race, Pogačar said, “It was a really good race, and the team did a super job. I wanted a hard finish, and we achieved that. I just made the wrong decision in the last kilometer. I wasn’t sure if I should attack, but I waited for the sprint and ended up boxed in.”

Despite not winning, Pogačar was upbeat about his performance, saying, “I’m super happy to be back racing. My legs felt good, and I’m excited for Sunday.” He was referring to the upcoming GP Montréal, a race he believes suits him better than the Québec event.

Pogačar admitted that he didn’t expect his legs to be in such good shape after his break, and that this performance boosted his confidence heading into the GP Montréal and the World Championships in Zürich. The Slovenian star is eager to regain his race rhythm and compete for his first rainbow jersey, facing off against tough competitors like Remco Evenepoel and Mathieu van der Poel.

Looking back at the final moments of the race, Pogačar said he initially thought his breakaway group with the Lotto riders would stay ahead of the chasing peloton. “With 1km to go, I looked back and saw we had a gap, so I thought we’d make it to the finish,” he explained. However, the peloton closed in faster than expected, and Pogačar realized he should have attacked sooner.

Despite the missed opportunity, Pogačar quickly shrugged off the result, happy to be racing again after more than 50 days away from competition. “Maybe I could have stayed away, but it is what it is. It was really fun racing, and I enjoyed it a lot,” he concluded.