Tadej Pogachal's name has been added to the list of favorites to win the UCI Road World Championships in Australia.

Pogachar, a member of UAE Team Emirates, made his return to racing two weeks ago at the Bretagne Classique d'Ouest-France, and then at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal in Canada, where he held off Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) to He won the race ahead of Wout Van Aert (Jumbo Visma).

The Belgian tried to overtake Pogachar on the final climb, but Andrea Bagioli (Quick-Step Alfa Vinyl) got there first and finished second. Pogachar won by several bike lengths. He was ecstatic and looking forward to the long flight on Monday.

"I can go to Australia with confidence," Pogachar said of the World Championships, nodding his head as a favorite to win the rainbow jersey.

"I'm going to Australia tomorrow. So far, it looks like I'm getting in shape. I want to have a good day at the World Championships. The course is different from today and the race time is longer, so it will be really hard."

Pogachar was especially proud of his win over Van Aert in the uphill sprint. Pogachar was particularly proud of his win over Van Aert in the uphill sprint. As he crossed the line, he raised his hands in celebration and continued to raise them as he returned to the podium area, celebrating with various UAE Team Emirates riders.

For Pogachar, the victory was the fourth of his career, but also included wins at Strade Bianche, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and Il Lombardia.

"The group in the final was only the best in the world. Wout won the green jersey at the Tour de France and has won every sprint this season." To beat him and to beat all the guys in front of me was unbelievable. When I crossed the finish line it was unbelievable and I was so happy."

Poga

Pogachar and Van Aert engaged in a psychological battle and tactics as they prepared for the sprint competition in Mont-Royal Park.

"I knew Wout would do a great sprint and I wanted to be on his wheels, but he wanted to be on mine," he explained.

"At the last corner he came around and was waiting for me to pass him. But I was still confident and kind of lucky. Gordie went early and I was able to stay with him to get some slipstream. Then I pushed to the line and prayed no one could pass me. It was an incredible finish."

"The whole race was so hard, not just the sprint, and the team worked so hard. The end was perfect but difficult because I knew Wout was one of the best sprinters in the world. But this was a tough finish and I believed in myself and gave it everything I had and succeeded."

After finishing second behind Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo Visma) in the Tour de France and deciding to skip the Vuelta a España, Pogachar is now aiming for the road world championships and his second Il Lombardia, which will be held on October 8.

It was Pogachar's first visit to Canada for two World Tour races, but he headed to Australia with a smile on his face.