Tadej Pogachal has set the Tour de France and World Championships, and a repeat of his 2024 success, as his main goals for 2025.

In the new season, Pogachar will return to Milan-San Remo and the cobbled Flemish classics, but he has ruled out competing in all three Grand Tours next season, at least for 2025.

At the UAE Team Emirates training camp in Benidorm, Spain, Pogachar also spoke at length about rider safety. He dismissed the idea that the race and rider speeds need to be reduced somehow.

Pogachar recognizes that 2024 was his best season to date. Consistency, born out of the fact that his racing, training, and recovery all went well, was the primary reason for Pogachal's continued improvement and success.

The current world champion said he hopes to continue progressing until the end of his career.

“As human beings, we improve until the very end.

The 26-year-old Pogachal's career is far from over, he insisted, and his top priority for 2025 is to defend his two biggest successes, the Tour de France in July and the world championships in Rwanda.

“My program is not crazy,” he suggested.

“As in previous years, I start with the UAE Tour, then the classics in Italy and Belgium, the Ardennes, and preparation for the Tour. The Tour is my main goal, along with the World Championships, and it would give me great pleasure if I could defend my title.”

He tickled the door open to Paris-Roubaix in 2025, but that seems unlikely.

“It's not a final decision, and maybe we can still do it.

“I really like running the Classics, I had a really great season in the 2023 Classic until I crashed. I want to return to the cobbles at least a few more times in my career. I don't care if I have the rainbow stripes of a world champion or not, I want to be back on the cobblestones at least a few more times in my career.

Pogachar seems determined to make Milan-San Remo, one of the two monuments alongside Paris-Roubaix, his goal.

“It's the least predictable race on the calendar, but it's one you want to improve yourself in over and over again.

“I'm getting close to first place and it will be one of my goals next year. The most important thing about San Remo is not having an aero bike, but having a bike that can go fast on a 5-7% gradient.

“But I really like the race. It's a really nice monument, because it all comes down to the last climb.

One of the biggest questions yet to be decided for Pogachar is whether he will aim for a repeat of the 2024 Giro Tour or move on to the 2025 Giro Vuelta combined.

Either way, he said, the key conclusion for 2024 is that doing two Grand Tours has proven to be a good thing.

“If you have a plan and train well, you can do anything,” he said, explaining why winning the Giro and Tour in 2024 would be the most amazing feat in cycling in recent years.

Safety is an increasingly debated issue in professional cycling, and Pogacher insisted that it is up to riders to protect each other by “not being stupid, respecting all riders, and respecting the road” rather than slowing down bikes and races.

“I don't think there were no crashes 100 years ago, and there is no danger in riding at an average speed of 20 km/h,” he said sarcastically.

“Think about your capabilities,” he stated.

As for making the race safer, he said, “It's difficult. But the organizers are trying with new barriers, choosing the right paths, and not going over speed bumps at 70 km/h. It's a much more sensible finish. I am not an expert in straight line finishes, but there should not be any gentle corners in the last 400 or 500 meters.

“Extreme weather protocols are being used more and more in the big races, especially with regard to snow and rain, but not so much in the smaller races... I think running at full throttle in 45 degree temperatures is more dangerous than running in 5 degree temperatures.

When it comes to the 2025 goals, Pogachal insisted that “we can do a little worse than this year.”

Still, Pogachar hopes to continue raising the bar next year, or even to the end of his career.

He is encouraged that he has a contract with UAE Team Emirates through 2030, but may also look to use a mental health coach.

It is also encouraging that he has a contract with UAE Team Emirates until 2030, but he may also be looking to use a mental health coach.

“I don't have to worry about whether or not a new contract will come, and that's certainly an advantage. It's more comfortable, and I know everybody here very well and have great friendships. So it's good to be here for a long time.”