Tadej Pogačar Responds to O’Connor’s Statement Ahead of World Championships
Slovenian cycling superstar Tadej Pogačar has responded to comments made by Australian rider Ben O’Connor ahead of the highly anticipated UCI Road World Championships. O’Connor, dubbed the “Golden Boy” of Australian cycling, had pointed out that it’s not just Pogačar who stands out in one-day races, but also Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel, citing the competitive field in this year’s race.
O’Connor, who recently secured a second-place finish at the Vuelta a España, spoke confidently about the upcoming competition in the mixed zone. “It’s not just about Pogacar. Remco also has a great one-day record, so we must look at several guys. We have to play to our strengths and maybe do something that doesn’t seem normal. We just have to go out there and make it a nice race,” O’Connor said.
The Australians have already had success in the Mixed Relay earlier this week, with Michael Matthews and his teammates capturing gold. O’Connor emphasized that Australia is not solely relying on Matthews, explaining that riders like Jai Hindley, Jay Vine, and himself are also in strong form to compete on different fronts.
Responding to O’Connor’s remarks, Pogačar acknowledged the depth of talent in the field but remained focused on his own race. “Ben is right. This World Championships will not be about any single rider. Evenepoel has shown his strength in one-day races, and O’Connor has also been riding exceptionally well. The course is tricky, and it’s going to be a battle of strategy, positioning, and timing,” said Pogačar, who remains one of the top contenders despite the tough competition.
The course, as described by O’Connor, poses a unique challenge, with technical sections and narrow passages that could make positioning critical during the race. “It’s more technical than it might look on paper, so I’m curious how that will be in the peloton. At times, it gets pretty narrow,” O’Connor explained.
Pogačar, who has had a stellar year with wins in both stage and one-day races, is considered a favorite heading into Sunday’s race. However, the presence of strong competitors like Evenepoel, O’Connor, and a fully capable Australian team means the Slovenian will have to be at his best to secure another world title.
As for O’Connor, the Aussie admitted that his recovery post-Vuelta had been difficult. “The first week after the Vuelta was really bad; I’ve never felt so bad physically after a big tour. In the second week, I felt like something had run over me; I was always so tired. But here, it went well, so I’m ready for the one race I still have left this year,” O’Connor said.
With the competition heating up and world-class riders like Pogačar, Evenepoel, and O’Connor all in top form, Sunday’s race promises to be an epic showdown on the world stage.
