Tadej Pogacar denies dominance is killing cycling after Il Lombardia triumph: ‘I’ve just seen so many happy fans’

He started the season with a victory in Italy in May when he won his Giro d’Italia debut, and followed it up with his third Tour de France victory and completed the Triple Crown with his triumph at the World Championships.

But the 26-year-old is confident that cycling and its fans are not getting bored of Pogacar’s spectacle just yet, citing the Lombardy crowd as proof that it is not killing cycling.

“It was nice to run 255 kilometers, with all the people on the side of the road cheering for me and everyone. That’s the best.

“You can always find some people on the internet with negativity, but I don’t see that happening on the road – that’s what matters.”

Pogacar didn’t dwell on comparisons, Pogacar focused on ending the season as he had started it, with a win, having started the cycling year with a solo win at Strade Bianche in March.

“I finished the season the way I started it and with the same celebration. I hope it was a nice photo,” he said, recalling his celebration after his victory in Tuscany.

“Every victory has its history, its emotions, but I think that this year, above all, there is the World Championship. It is difficult to win it.”

Looking ahead to the next season, Pogacar made it clear that the only thing on his mind is to rest and relax before pursuing new goals and achievements.

“I just live in the moment,” he said. “Now I want to go on holiday and rest after this good season and go into the next season, with new goals and new challenges.

“There are other things in life to look forward to, not just winning and racing. There’s life outside the bike too. I’m looking forward to it now.”