Cycling: "I'm counting down the years until retirement"... Winner of the last Tour de France, Tadej Pogacar already admits he's thinking about the end of his career

The reigning world champion and four-time winner of the Tour de France, the Slovenian, discussed his future on the sidelines of a criterium on home soil on Saturday.

It's no secret that Tadej Pogacar doesn't see himself lingering in the peloton. The 26-year-old winner of the last Tour de France two weeks ago made this point again on Saturday, August 9, on the sidelines of a criterium held at his home town, near Komenda, where he grew up in Slovenia. "I'm already counting the years until retirement . I started winning early, and there could be worse results, I'm ready for anything," explained the current world champion in comments reported by local media RTVSLO , before logically winning on home soil. He told L'Equipe at the end of July that he was planning to go as far as the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, at the very least.

"I'll probably still do a few more Tours, even if you can never guarantee that you'll do them. The Tour is the biggest race and I doubt the team will leave me at home for a few more years," added the man who is under contract until 2030 with UAE Team Emirates XRG. "I'm happy to be back home, to be able to see my friends, my neighbors, my family. It's true that sometimes I would like to be a little less famous, sometimes taking pictures and signing autographs is tiring, other times a little less, but I try to please everyone."

During the last Tour de France, where he won four stages before claiming a fourth title (2020, 2021, 2024, 2025), "Pogi" sometimes appeared tired and weary. " Anyone can have a bad day. You can't expect me to radiate happiness during the 21 stages. The Tour was very difficult, one of the toughest I've ridden, anyone who fought for the general classification can confirm that. Now I've rested, I've taken stock and I'm ready for new battles," he said on Saturday, as he decided not to compete in the Vuelta .

The rider with 104 professional victories is expected to compete in the Canadian classics: the Grand Prix of Quebec, which is missing from his list of achievements, then the one in Montreal in September. He will then defend his rainbow jersey at the Rwandan World Championships, then should participate in the European Championships dedicated to climbers in early October between Privas (Drôme) and Valence (Ardèche), to finish his season at the Tour of Lombardy.