Pogacar 'strong and motivated' for Tour of Switzerland debut

Slovenian cycling sensation Tadej Pogacar is set to make his debut at the Tour of Switzerland, viewing the race as his final "dress rehearsal" before the prestigious Tour de France, which commences in Barcelona on July 4. Pogacar expressed his readiness, stating he feels "strong and motivated" for the event, which runs from Wednesday to Sunday.

As the leader for UAE Team Emirates, Pogacar aims to defend the title previously won by Joao Almeida in 2025 and Adam Yates the year before. This race holds particular significance for Pogacar as he seeks to conquer the Tour of Switzerland to complete his collection of one-week stage races. Having already secured victories in races like the Tour of Romandie, he now only needs the Tour of Switzerland and the Itzulia Basque Country to complete this personal goal. "This is the first time I'm competing here, which makes it even more exciting," Pogacar stated.

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The training has gone very well, both individually and as a team, and I arrive at the Tour of Switzerland feeling strong and motivated. This is the first time I'm competing here, which makes it even more exciting.

Following a successful training period in altitude at Sierra Nevada after his victory in the Tour of Romandie, Pogacar is eager to test his form. He emphasized the team's collective effort: "We've had a good block of altitude training in recent weeks, and after seeing our teammates compete and achieve good results in other races, we are looking forward to pinning on our numbers and putting all that work into practice."

While Pogacar is a strong favorite, the Tour of Switzerland typically attracts a high-caliber field in anticipation of the Tour de France. This year's edition has been condensed from eight to five stages to align with the women's race schedule. The route is known for its challenging, mountainous terrain, and organizers have opted for a format where each stage starts and finishes in the same town or city for logistical ease. Pogacar will be supported by a strong UAE Team Emirates lineup, including Felix Grossschartner, Brandon McNulty, Jhonatan Narváez, Domen Novak, Nils Politt, and Tim Wellens.

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We've had a good block of altitude training in recent weeks, and after seeing our teammates compete and achieve good results in other races, we are looking forward to pinning on our numbers and putting all that work into practice.