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Even Tour de France wrecker Tadej Pogačar gets tired sometimes.
Pogačar has put away his yellow jersey On Monday, he decided to cancel his planned participation in the Olympic road race due to fatigue.
Elsewhere, this year’s particularly difficult Tour de France has taken a toll on several of the sport’s biggest stars.
The plans for Jonas Vingegaard, Primož Roglič and Mark Cavendish remain unclear as the dust continues to settle after three weeks of action in France.
The Slovenian federation confirmed on Monday that Pogačar, who has won 12 stages and two Grand Tour titles in three historic months, will not compete in the Paris road race on August 3.
“The head coach of the men’s cycling team has announced the names of the cyclists who will participate in the Olympic Games in Paris this year. Unfortunately, Tadej Pogačar will not be among them, as he cancelled his performance due to excessive fatigue,” the Slovenian federation’s Instagram post reads.
Domen Novak, Jan Tratnik, Matej Mohorič and Luka Mezgeč will represent the Slovenian team in Pogacar’s absence.
Across the paddock, Tour de France runner-up Vingegaard confirmed he would not compete in the Vuelta a España due to “exhaustion” after crossing France hungover from a litany of career-threatening injuries.
“I will not be at the start of the Vuelta a Espana,” Vingegaard told Eurosport. “I have different priorities this year, but I will definitely be there again in the future.
“I’m tired, I don’t think I’ve ever been so tired after a grand tour,” Vingegaard continued. “To be honest, I’m exhausted. I need some rest now.”
Elsewhere, Roglič, the ‘Big 4’ player who never reached Nice, is still in the infirmary after his Tour de France ended on the asphalt in a crash on stage 12.
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe officials are monitoring Roglič’s injuries and have yet to confirm rumours that the three-time world champion red jersey will return to the race at Veulta a España.
And Cavendish?
The 35-time stage winner suggested to reporters after the final stage of the Tour de France on Sunday that he may have just completed his last professional cycling race.
Pogačar bets on rainbows, no specific timetable for Vingegaard
Pogačar has already confirmed that the Vuelta a España will not be part of his summer programme.
With the Olympics also off the schedule, Pogačar has a clear path to go for one of the few titles not yet on his calendar. awards.
The Slovenian has already made history with his Giro d’Italia-Tour de France double, imitating Marco Pantani, and is now in search of a rainbow jersey that would give him an equally legendary “triple crown”.
Only Eddy Merckx and Stephen Roche have won the Giro, the Tour and the road race world championship in the same season.
The Canadian Grand Prix races in early September will give Pogačar a warm-up before the World Road Race in Zurich.
“Van der Poel looks really good in the Worlds jersey. I want to take that jersey from him this year,” Pogacar said Sunday after winning his third Tour de France.
“We’ll see. I want to wear the rainbow jersey on my back once, but I still have time.”
Pogačar will likely end his season in October with a series of one-day races in Italy before a title defence at Il Lombardia.
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For a moment, we feared for your life. You showed what a fighter you are. You made not only us incredibly proud, but the whole world too. ❤️
You may not have won the Tour this year, but you certainly won all hearts. You are truly a… pic.twitter.com/Iu6ZfL6CxT
— Visma Team | Rent a Bike (@vismaleaseabike) July 21, 2024
Vingegaard, who suggested earlier this summer that the Vuelta a España was never on the agenda due to family priorities, could face a considerably lower profile come late summer.
The 27-year-old left his hospital bed and immediately threw himself into training for the Tour de France after his accident in the Basque Country in April.
“It’s been quite a journey,” Vingegaard said. Eurosport This weekend.
“It’s only been three and a half months since I had the worst accident of my career, breaking almost every bone in the upper right side of my body and puncturing both lungs.”
There are currently no races on Vingegaard’s schedule for 2024.
Sepp Kuss on course for Vuelta a España title defence
This year’s Vuelta a España will not see Tour de France dominators Pogacar and Vingegaard start in Lisbon on August 17, but it will welcome defending champion Sepp Kuss.
Visma-Lease a Bike confirmed this month Bike that Kuss, who was unable to participate in the Tour de France due to COVID, will lead the team in the defense of the red jersey.
Programming for The Vuelta This remains to be confirmed, although rumours suggest that an armada of Spanish climbers including Juan Ayuso, Mikel Landa and Carlos Rodríguez could be Kuss’ main competitors in the final grand tour of the season.
