Tadej Pogacar Withdraws from Paris Olympic Road Race Due to Fatigue

Tadej Pogacar, a three-time Tour de France winner, has withdrawn from the road race at the Paris Olympics due to fatigue. Pogacar's professional teammate Domen Novak will replace him. Pogacar recently won both the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia in the same season, a feat last achieved nearly three decades ago.

Tadej Pogacar, a three-time Tour de France winner, has officially withdrawn from the road race at the upcoming Paris Olympics due to fatigue. This announcement was made late Monday by the Slovenian Olympic Team, one day after Pogacar's historic win of both the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia in the same season, a rare feat accomplished nearly three decades ago.

In a statement, the Slovenian team confirmed that Pogacar's professional teammate, Domen Novak, will replace him. This decision comes after another potential replacement, Primoz Roglic, the defending Olympic time trial gold medalist, was left off the nation's provisional lineup, likely due to his recovery from a recent crash.

Pogacar, who has decided not to race in the Vuelta a Espana this year to recuperate ahead of the world championships in September, expressed his satisfaction after pulling off such an extraordinary double victory. "I'm super happy," he remarked, noting that the Tour de France was particularly special for him this year.

(With inputs from agencies.)