Rejection of Topstars - Tour-winner Pogacar declines Olympics
Tadej Pogacar, Tour-de-France winner, withdraws from Olympic Games. The overwhelming Tour de France champion was removed from the Slovenian squad. Domen Novak takes his place in the Road Race.
Unfortunately, Tadej Pogacar will not be present as he cancelled his participation due to extreme fatigue," said Uros Murn, Slovenian Olympic team trainer, in a statement. The Slovenians also have to forego Primoz Roglic, three-time Vuelta winner, who retired from the Tour de France due to a fall.
The 25-year-old Pogacar, who won Bronze in Tokyo, would have been among the top favorites for Gold in the Individual Time Trial on Saturday and the Road Race a week later. His toughest rival at the Tour de France, the Dane Jonas Vingegaard, had already withdrawn his participation in June. Pogacar became the first road professional since 26 years to win the double of Tour de France and Giro d'Italia on Sunday.
Tadej Pogacar, despite being a Tour-de-France winner and Tour de France champion, will not be participating in the Olympic Games in Nice, France. His withdrawal leaves a spot open in the Slovenian squad, which is then filled by Domen Novak for the Road Race. Despite Pogacar's success in cycling events like the Olympic Games in Tokyo, where he won Bronze, and his recent double victory at the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia, his exhaustion led to his withdrawal from the Olympic Games.
