Tadej Pogacar concluded an intense sequence of races at the World Championship and enjoyed a well-deserved period of rest. During his recovery and preparation for Il Lombardia, he shared his experiences with the Italian media, mentioning how the wrist fracture affected a part of his season and made it less than “ideal.”
“Il Lombardia (October 7th) is the motivation I need to train for the final races and finish my season on a high note,” Pogacar said in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport. “I’ve always loved the Italian end-of-season classics.” The Slovenian’s plan is also to race in the Giro dell’Emilia (September 30th) and Tre Valle Varesine (October 3rd), with these races marking the final events of the 2023 season.
He reflected on what he achieved during the season. He mentioned that he’s happy with it, but there was one hiccup. “I prefer to keep what I’ve achieved. There’s only one thing I would change: my crash at Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Without my fractured wrist, my season would have been perfect,” he argued.
“At first, I didn’t think the crash and the fracture were that significant, but now, looking at my preparation for the Tour, they had a significant impact. I had to change things compared to previous years. I started the Tour in great shape, but I wasn’t ready for three weeks of racing,” he admits.
“I’ve learned a lot this year. It’s with things like an injury that you learn for the future. There was also one thing I already knew: your health is the most important thing of all. In life and as a high-level athlete,” he concludes.