Slovenia is going crazy after my win, says Tour de France winner Pogacar

Dubai - Pogacar admitted his team - UAE Team Emirates - did very well in supporting the riders during what has been a very difficult season amid a global health crisis

Despite his lung-busting efforts making him the first man from Slovenia to win the toughest race in the world, the 22-year-old Tadej Pogacar refuses to get carried away.
Proudly wearing the UAE Team Emirates jersey during a virtual media conference, the Tour de France champion admitted that his massive achievement of winning one of the biggest sporting events in the world has made his small country of two million people jump for joy.
But the man who became the youngest Tour winner since the World War II by beating compatriot Primoz Roglic, also revealed why he could not be with his people back home to share the greatest joy of life.
"For Slovenia, it's the first Tour de France victory. And I must say, first and second podium places, Slovenia is going crazy right now because, you know, in my home country, everybody is so happy, everyone is celebrating," he said, replying to a question from Khaleej Times.
"But for me now, I am staying in my apartment in Monaco where everything is more relaxed. Because of the Covid restrictions, it's a bit hard to go out and celebrate with all the people. And also, the season has not finished yet. The season has changed a little bit because of this virus, so we need to stay focused and healthy for the future events."
And preparing for an event like the Tour de France in a season ravaged by the Covid-19 pandemic was not easy either.
"This year, I mean with this virus, it was really difficult. At some point when we didn't know when we would start racing, we didn't know if we can train," he said.
"But then yeah, fortunately, we started training outside, and then in the training camps with limited staff, everyone in the single rooms, disinfecting everything, we just needed to be careful all this period not to get the virus, we were just hoping for the best.
"On the Tour, it was really good organisation, I must say they did the event really well. They did all the tests, we were in the team bubble."
And Pogacar admitted his team - UAE Team Emirates - did very well too in supporting the riders during what has been a very difficult season amid a global health crisis.
"I am very proud of my team. The management did such an amazing job that we didn't have to worry about anything outside the race. It was a great pleasure to work in this great team," he said.
The young rider then predicted a great future for the team.
"The improvement of the team since I joined is great. They are improving from race to race. Everyone is doing their best in the team, all the staff, all the management, everyone, the riders especially. I think the team is growing really fast in the last few years. Already this year, we are on the top of the best teams in the world, so this is really, really good for the team," he said.
Individually, though, Pogacar doesn't want to rest on his laurels.
"Now that I won he Tour de France, for sure I need other goals. I will try to defend the Tour de France title, but course, in cycling, there is also the world championships. This is my next goal. But I would just try to be at my best in the future and try to win again," he smiled.
Finally, he admitted that it had been difficult for him to understand the magnitude of his achievement at the Tour de France.
"This hasn't sunk in yet, really. I think it's going to be a long time until I realise that I won the biggest race in the world," he said.
"Because it's something that I was dreaming since I was a kid to be on the start list of the Tour de France. And now in the first year, I already had the opportunity to race with the best. And to win, it's unbelievable for me. I think I will need some time to realise what happened."