- Pogacar’s fiancée Urska Zigart has not been selected by Slovenia for the Olympic Games
- Slovenian officials said Pogacar withdrew from the Games due to ‘extreme fatigue’
- He has admitted that the decision about his girlfriend was a contributing factor
Tour de France winner Tadej Pogacar has admitted that the Slovenian Cycling Federation’s decision not to select his fiancée was a contributing factor to his late withdrawal from the Paris Olympics.
On Monday, the Slovenian Olympic Committee announced that Pogacar had withdrawn from the Games due to “extreme fatigue.”
The announcement came less than 24 hours after he won his third Tour title in Nice, and ahead of the road race he was due to compete in on August 3.
However, on Tuesday evening he did participate in a criterium race. He told the media that the decision not to select his fiancée Urska Zigart was partly the reason why he withdrew.
In an interview with the Dutch broadcaster NOS, the Guardianhe said, ‘It’s not the main reason, but it certainly didn’t help.
Tadej Pogacar (pictured with girlfriend Urska Zigart) has withdrawn from the Olympic Games in Paris
Zigart (left) was left out of the Slovenian cycling team for the Olympic Games in Paris
Pogacar said the absence of Zigart (pictured) was a contributing factor in him withdrawing from the Olympics
His decision came less than 24 hours after he won the Tour de France
“I think she deserves a spot. She is the double national champion in road race and time trial.”
“She’s the only female cyclist to ever finish in the top 10 in a week-long World Tour race. She’s done a great job winning points for Slovenia the last two years and without her they wouldn’t have had two spots in the (Olympic) road race.”
He added: “It is what it is, and now we can go on holiday together.”
Zigart and Pogacar first met during a cycling training camp in Slovenia.
The couple now live together in Monaco and announced their engagement in September 2021.
The 25-year-old reacted fiercely online when the Slovenian Olympic team was announced earlier this month: “I am shocked by the fact that Urska Zigart, two-time national champion and the best Slovenian cyclist in the World Tour, has not been selected for the Olympic Games.”
Zigart was expected to compete at the Olympics given his impressive results this year, including a win at the national road championship.
The couple met at a cycling camp in Slovenia and have both had success
The couple got engaged in September 2021 and Pogacar said they may go on vacation instead
In that race she finished 11 minutes ahead of the number two, Urska Pintar, who is part of the Slovenian team together with Eugenia Bujak and did not take part in the race.
According to The Guardian, Zigart said the selection decision was made last year and that she had received a message from national coach Gorazd Penko explaining his decision.
Pogacar was selected to compete in the men’s Olympic road race on August 3, hoping to improve on his bronze medal from the Tokyo Olympics. However, he is now expected to aim for a triple world title by adding the world road title to his Giro and Tour titles in Zurich on September 29.
