“I never interfere with race decisions, but Tadej sometimes asks me what I think about this or that,” the Italian cycling agent begins. “I can tell you that he sets a new goal or challenge every year. Two years ago, it was the Tour of Flanders; this year, it was the Giro d’Italia, and in that trend, I know he wants to do two more races.”

“The first is the Tour Down Under because he rode it once before but failed to win it then. The second is the Vuelta a España,” Carera exposed Pogacar’s goals. The 2019 Tour Down Under was the Slovenian’s first professional race, where he finished 13th in the GC. In the Vuelta that same year, he finished third, with the white jersey and three stage wins.

“Pogacar raced in Catalonia because he had not yet won in Spain”

“Do you want to know why he participated in the Tour of Catalonia this year?” the Italian himself asks. “Because he had never won a multi-day WorldTour race in Spain. He had previously ridden the Tour of the Basque Country but didn’t win. Pogacar had already finished third in the Vuelta a España, but after the Giro and Tour, that was not an option this year. The Tour of the Basque Country was also not an option in 2024, as it was too close to the Giro. So Catalonia was the only option.” With success, in the end.

What is Pogacar’s ultimate goal? “His dream is to win all the races on the calendar. That is why I am sure he will want to ride the Tour of the Basque Country, and I am sure he will go to the Vuelta in 2025 or 2026. However, he will decide with his team and those closest to him. I would say the chances of seeing him there next year are fifty percent,” Carera cautiously predicts.