Tadej Pogacar has opened the door to participating in the Vuelta a Espana – but said he will take time to enjoy celebrating a fifth Tour de France title before making a final call.
Pogacar secured a record-equalling yellow jersey in Paris on Sunday, matching the tally of Eddy Merckx, Jacques Anquetil, Miguel Indurain and Bernard Hinault with another dominant success.
The Slovenian has now won the last three editions of the Tour and, at just 27, would appear to have plenty of time yet to chase the outright record and beyond.
The 2024 Giro d’Italia winner is also a 13-time Monument man, but the Vuelta is one of the few prizes in professional cycling that eludes Pogacar.
Having announced his arrival as a Grand Tour force with a podium finish as a 20-year-old on debut in 2019, Pogacar has not since raced in Spain and suggested that he had not yet made up his mind if he will compete this year.
“Right now, if it it starts tomorrow, I would say no,” Pogacar admitted with the Vuelta set to start on 22 August. “In two weeks, I can still decide.
“Right now, I just want to enjoy the moment of winning the Tour, if it’s fifth or the first it doesn’t matter. It’s unbelievable to wear the yellow jersey and cross the finish line in Paris winning it.
“I will just enjoy the moment, not thinking about any history, not thinking about any clubbing or whatever. I just want to enjoy this moment, and come back home and enjoy the small things in life. I’m really happy and proud to win the fifth Tour. Every single one of them has a different story, a different meaning, different emotions. Each one of them feels incredible and emotional for me.”
A Vuelta victory for Pogacar would complete the Grand Tour set, a feat achieved by only eight male riders. Jonas Vingegaard, Pogacar’s great rival, joined the club with Giro success earlier this year.
The Spanish race will embark from Monaco, where Pogacar lives, and travel through four countries across three weeks of racing.
The five-time Tour champion is cautious to avoid burnout having fought off fatigue on his way to his fourth crown last year.
“I didn’t say last year I was burning out, but I was well aware that it could happen,” Pogacar explained. “I’m also aware now. The burnout doesn’t mean you’re sad one day, or you don’t feel one day on the bike, it means chronic fatigue and you’re not happy on the bike when you go riding. Everything feels like a job.
“I’m aware that this can happen if you push too hard. That’s why I don’t want to say I go to Vuelta, I go to that. I need to think about this. Keep the feet on the ground.”
