Slovenia's cycling superstar identifies his main targets for 2027

Slovenian cycling star Tadej Pogačar has identified the World Championships, the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana as his main targets for 2027, as he prepares to return to racing following a crash that forced him to end the 2026 season early.

Pogačar, who won the Tour de France for the fifth time this year, said on 18 October he had resumed regular training a week ago after spending five weeks off the road following his crash at the Vuelta in late August, CE Report quotes The Slovenia Times.

"My main goals in 2027 are the world championships, the Tour and the Vuelta, which wasn't meant to be this year, but I want to tick it off," the 28-year-old told reporters at a charity event near Ljubljana.

The Vuelta is the only Grand Tour race he has never won.

Pogačar also sought to end speculations about what caused his crash at the Spanish Grand Tour, which left him with a broken and dislocated left collarbone and a fractured cervical vertebra.

"It was a big rock; everything else is fake news," he said, dismissing reports that a camera flash, a television camera battery or an action camera worn by a cyclist might have caused the fall.

Pogačar said the injuries had been painful and his recovery had required patience. Once his shoulder had settled, he began training on an indoor bike and briefly considered competing at the European road championships in Slovenia, but fear of another crash persuaded him against it.

He said he was now training regularly, about a month earlier than at the same point in previous seasons.

Despite the Vuelta crash, the Slovenian has enjoyed another outstanding year, winning the Tour de France, the Strade Bianche one-day race and Milan-San Remo for the first time. He also won the Tour of Flanders, Liege-Bastogne-Liege and the Tours of Romandie and Switzerland.

Photo Instagram/tadejpogacar