Paris 2024: Tour de France Champion Withdraws from Olympics Because His Girlfriend Was Not Picked

• Tadej Pogacar's girlfriend, Urška Žigart, was not selected by the Slovenian Olympic Committee for the Paris Olympics
• Slovenian officials released a statement to announce that Pogacar pulled out from the Games due to 'extreme fatigue'
• The Tour de France champion has admitted his fiancee's omission was a contributing factor to his withdrawal

Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar has opened up that his girlfriend's exclusion from Slovenia’s Paris Olympic team partly influenced his decision to withdraw from the Games.

The 25-year-old, who secured his third Tour de France title on Sunday, was also the favourite for gold in the Olympic road race.

Pogačar feels girlfriend deserved spot

Despite celebrating his Tour victory, Pogačar withdrew from the Paris Games, with the Slovenian Olympic Committee citing fatigue as the reason.

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But before competing in a criterium race in the Netherlands on Tuesday, Pogačar admitted to the media that the non-selection of his girlfriend, Urška Žigart, was a contributing factor to his withdrawal.

"It's not the main reason, but it definitely played a part," he said on Dutch TV via The BBC.

"She deserved her spot. As the double national champion in road racing and time trial, she's been exceptional. She's the only Slovenian woman to ever make the top 10 in week-long World Tour races and has been crucial in earning points for Slovenia over the past two years."

He continued: "Without her, Slovenia wouldn't have secured two spots in the road race."

Slovenia has announced Urška Pintar and Eugenia Bujak as their representatives for the women’s road race on August 4, according to Myjoyonline.

Bujak, a six-time Slovenian champion, was absent from this year's national championships.

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Pintar, the 2023 national champion, finished second, 10 minutes and 47 seconds behind Urska Zigart.

Ghana's 4X100m team prepares for Paris

Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh reported that the 4X100m relay team of Ghana remains one of Ghana's medal hopefuls ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The multi-sport event will begin on Friday, July 26, 2024, as athletes from various disciplines eye laurels in the French capital.

Ghana travelled to France with nine athletes, with four of them set to participate in the 4X100m relay.

Source: YEN.com.gh