Tadej Pogacar, the standout cyclist of 2024, is set to make his return to competition this week at the GP Québec! Fresh off an impressive season that includes victories in the Tour of Catalonia, Strade Bianche, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the Giro d’Italia, and the Tour de France, Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) is heading to Canada to race in both the GP Québec and GP Montréal. The Slovenian star is also eyeing a major goal this fall: the World Championships.

“I’ve enjoyed a good break from cycling, and I’m excited to get back on the bike in Canada,” Pogacar said in a statement on his team’s website. “Canada is a fantastic place for cycling, and I have great memories from two years ago.” Pogacar, who won the GP Montréal in 2022, is looking to repeat his success, having triumphed in a sprint against top competitors including Wout van Aert.

“The competition will be fierce, as always, so we need to be at our best,” Pogacar added. “I’m really pleased with what I’ve accomplished this season. Anything more will be a bonus. My form is solid, and I’m focusing on making the most of the final part of the season.”

Pogacar will be supported by a strong team in Canada, including Igor Arrieta, Juan Ayuso, Finn Fisher-Black, Rafal Majka, Domen Novak, and Tim Wellens. Notably, Wellens won the GP Montréal in 2015.

In an interview with Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport, Pogacar reflected on his season and looked forward to the World Championships in Zurich. Despite his impressive achievements, the rainbow jersey has eluded him so far. “Yes, it’s a bit surprising,” Pogacar admitted. “Slovenia hasn’t had much success at the World Championships, but I’m hopeful we can change that and win gold.”

Pogacar noted Slovenia’s recent success in grand tours, pointing out that the country had no grand tour wins until 2019, and now boasts nine. “Primoz Roglic and I have lost count of our grand tour victories by now,” Pogacar joked. “We’re in a golden era of Slovenian cycling, and I’m thrilled to be part of it. Let’s hope we can add the World Championship to our list of achievements!”

Looking ahead to the World Championships, Pogacar is prepared for a challenging course. “It’s tough, but not overly so,” he assessed. “The course is designed to favor climbers and explosive riders with some technical sections. Overall, it’s well-suited for a World Championship.”

When considering the competition, Pogacar highlighted two key rivals. “Mathieu van der Poel can be a strong contender if he’s in top form. Wout van Aert would have been a strong competitor on this course, but unfortunately, he’s not racing. Remco Evenepoel is a versatile rider like me, capable of winning on various terrains.”

Pogacar acknowledged that Evenepoel may currently have the edge in one-day races, but he’s determined to challenge that. “It’s true that he might be slightly ahead of me in big one-day races for now, but I’m confident I can turn that around this year,” Pogacar concluded with optimism.