The four-time Tour de France winner highlights the island’s “cycling paradise” and confirms he will return

Maspalomas, 28 November 2025.— Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogačar, one of the major figures in the international peloton and four-time Tour de France champion, held a press conference as part of the Gran Canaria 365 initiative, where he shared his impressions after his first days of training on the island. The athlete did not hide his enthusiasm for the conditions he has found—or his desire to come back.

“The first days have been very good and we’ve had great training groups. I’ve enjoyed it; Gran Canaria is a paradise for training,” Pogačar said, highlighting both the quality of the routes and the atmosphere among the cyclists taking part in the training sessions. “It’s been very beautiful to ride on these roads; I’ve really enjoyed it,” he added.

The Slovenian rider explained that his main goal during this visit is to get to know the island and set the groundwork for the next season. “It’s my first time here, and I want to explore Gran Canaria and start training with next season in mind,” he said.

Although he has not yet defined his racing calendar for next year, he noted that things will become clearer in the coming weeks. “We haven’t discussed the calendar for next season yet; possibly in December we’ll have a clearer picture,” he commented, adding that although “it’s difficult to combine La Vuelta with the Tour de France, someday I will ride La Vuelta a España.”

Pogačar also highlighted Gran Canaria’s potential as a venue for major professional cycling events: “You could hold several stages of La Vuelta a España here on the island; it could host two or three stages of a Grand Tour.”

Regarding his philosophy as a cyclist and how his motivation has evolved, he reflected: “A cyclist’s career isn’t very long, but you have to stay motivated. Motivation changes throughout the years, the pressure is different, and every year you try to maintain the same results as the year before.”

He also shared some encouraging words for local cyclists: “They have everything here: good weather all year round, good roads, and little traffic. They need to go out, ride, and have fun to improve; it’s not always about going out with the goal of getting better — sometimes it’s simply about enjoying the ride.”

Finally, Pogačar hinted that this will not be his only visit to the island: “There is a very good chance I’ll come back to Gran Canaria because this week has gone by very fast and I’ve had a great time.”

Gran Canaria 365 is an initiative created by DG Eventos and promoted by Turismo de Gran Canaria through Gran Canaria Tri Bike & Run, with the aim of consolidating a sustainable development model centered around sport, nature, and the island’s privileged climate.