Slovenian cycling star Tadej Pogačar, competing for UAE Team Emirates, returned to racing at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec after a 54-day break following the Tour de France. Despite lighting up the event with a commanding performance, Pogačar ultimately finished seventh in a thrilling sprint finish won by Michael Matthews (Jayco AlUla).
Pogačar admitted to making a tactical error in the closing kilometers of the race. With just 2.2km remaining, he launched one of his trademark attacks but was closely followed by defending champion Arnaud De Lie and two Lotto Dstny teammates. Instead of continuing to press for a solo win, Pogačar hesitated, allowing the peloton to close in and swallow the breakaway group.
“I made the wrong decision,” Pogačar acknowledged post-race. “I waited for the sprint, and I was boxed in. It was a tough race, and the team did a great job, but I should have attacked earlier.”
Despite missing out on the win, Pogačar was upbeat about his form in his first ….read more
