Three Valleys Varesine cancelled, Tadej Pogacar doesn’t mince words

Tadej Pogacar speaks on behalf of the group

For the second time in five years, the Tre Valli Varesine men's race roster will have an empty box. If in 2020 it was the pandemic that caused the cancellation of one of the most anticipated races of the season finale, this year it was bad weather that convinced the organization to first suspend and then cancel the race, after it had already been run for 57.9 kilometers. It's the first time in 103 editions that the race has been canceled after it started: a decision that è was agreed upon by the cyclists in the race and the organizers and that è was explained without much ado at a press conference by Tadej Pogacar.

"I am here to speak for the group,” said Pogacar, reigning world champion and big favorite of the Three Valleys. “During the race we all had the feeling that we were not cycling safely. Water was coming from every direction, even from manholes, the asphalt was covered with a layer of water, so many had punctures or damaged bikes".

" We tried to run, although we did not know what to expect – added the Slovenian rider. In such conditions è easy to lose control, slip and get hurt. We talked among ourselves and agreed to suggest to the'organization to stop the race".

"It's clear that it would have been nice to finish it, but not in these conditions,” Pogacar pointed out. “To risk it made no sense: just a few days ago, in Switzerland, there was the tragic accident of Muriel Ferrer, " it was right here that the organization decided not to let us take unnecessary risks".