Pogacar, Vingegaard, Evenepoel Clash at European Cycling Championships

Tadej Pogacar, fresh off his second World Championship win in Rwanda, is preparing for a highly anticipated European road race championship in France, expected to be more explosive due to its shorter and hillier course. He is motivated to compete alongside his girlfriend Urska Zigart, who also races in the women's event, marking a meaningful moment after past Olympic team selection issues. Pogacar acknowledges the challenge posed by rivals Jonas Vingegaard, a recent Vuelta a Espana winner making a rare appearance at a one-day race, and Remco Evenepoel, a formidable time-trialist and Olympic gold medalist. The European Championships present a rare direct confrontation among cycling's top talents, including Pogacar, Vingegaard, and Evenepoel, who have seldom raced head-to-head outside the Tour de France. While Pogacar is open to attempting a long-range attack, he notes the race's terrain and distance make such a move less likely than at the World Championships. The event is highly anticipated as a showdown among cycling's modern elite on challenging terrain, with Pogacar respecting his rivals' strengths and the tactical complexities posed by their teams.