The love, grief and ambition in the life of Urska Zigart

The love, grief and ambition in the life of Urska Zigart

When her fiancé Tadej Pogacar (26) suddenly became more successful, people warned her: Pay attention. "But Tadej is still just Tadej," says Urska Zigart (28) — who has been working for AG Insurance-Soudal, the female division of 'The Wolfpack', since this year. She will soon be riding the Strade Bianche. A conversation about love, grief and ambition. "My mother taught me to be strong and that everything is possible."

The buildings of AG Insurance in the heart of Brussels. When Zigart enters during the media day, all heads turn. Long, blond hair, light blue eyes and fresh spring freckles. "I would love to just sit on my bike," she whispers. "Don't get me wrong: I am very grateful for our sponsors. I am doing this for them today. Without sponsors we can no longer race." But you don't need all that attention? "I don't really like being in the spotlight. I suffer from stage fright, especially when there are a lot of people watching me. That's why I won't do anything with my passion for music anytime soon. I play guitar and piano. Somewhere it's a secret dream to perform one day. But if something doesn't go the way I want it to, then I freeze. » 'Feel the rain on your skin, no one else can feel it for you', I heard you sing in a video on Instagram. You're no less than Natasha Bedingfield, you know. (blushing) «I like it. I feel like I sing pretty 'average'. Not bad, not super good. Although people around me are often surprised when they hear me. » But for now you're sticking to racing? (laughs) «Yeah, yeah. »

 

You're riding the Strade Bianche this weekend. What do you expect?
«We're going there with a strong team, with many different riders and options. That's why I feel like the pressure is not too bad. I certainly feel like I have good legs. If I do my best, I can't blame myself.»

And Tadej? Will he succeed himself?

«The last two weeks he's had to shift his focus from a stage race to the classics. It requires a different preparation. But Tadej is Tadej. Be careful: I don't expect him to take off again with a hundred kilometers to go. I hope he doesn't make it too hard for himself this time. (laughs) But you never know with him.»

He won the UAE Tour straight away this season. Are you still amazed by what he does?
«Certainly. Because I know what he has to sacrifice for it. Getting to the top is one thing. Staying at the top is much harder. Everyone looks at you and expects only the best. You should not underestimate that pressure.»

Do you enjoy those beautiful moments enough?
«Maybe not. Last year we went to dinner with rider Eddie Dunbar and his girlfriend. At our first drink we said: «Santé. To… Yes, to what actually? In the meantime, so many victories and titles had passed. Then we said to each other: ‘We really should go out for dinner more often to celebrate something.’ Sometimes winning becomes a habit, while we should cherish it. You never know what’s around the corner.»

You never know when it will be your last race. Do you think about that a lot?
«A lot of young talent is coming up. One day they will take your place. That is not the end of the world, right? But I am very aware of that. In addition, our sport is not without risks. I realize that too.»

I remember, among other things, that dangerous descent of the Galibier last summer. Tadej went all out in that. Are you sometimes afraid when he seeks his limits?
«I haven't dared to watch his descents for a long time. I walk around the house a bit. Or I clean the bathroom in the meantime. (laughs) I can still hear the TV from a distance, but I don't have to see it. I always try to stay calm, never to panic.»

In addition to being his fiancée, you are also his regular training partner. You even go on altitude training camps together. How important is that?
«So we seize every opportunity to do something together. 2025 will be a tough year. Look at our schedules. Sometimes we don't see each other for three to four weeks. So...»

Can you talk about anything other than racing?
(nods) «We love nothing more than talking about other things. We both crave extra 'quality time' without that bike. The only problem is that we are never together long enough for that. We then cram everything we want to do into one day. As a result, we have the bad habit of going to bed quite late. Before you know it, you're still watching a series at midnight.»

What are you currently watching?
«Monk, a detective series. And Schitt's Creek, a funny series about a rich family that suddenly loses all its wealth. The disadvantage of a series like this is that you want to watch it together. I secretly watch an episode without Tadej. I always think he won't notice. (laughs) But he notices right away.»

What does your perfect day look like?
«A day off with Tadej, without obligations, where we sleep in until nine o'clock. Followed by a long breakfast. Smartphones aside. (in full swing) Then we go out with our bikes. We take a break at a nice place where we can have a nice coffee. And in the evening we go out for dinner with friends. Lovely.»

We occasionally see photos of such a day off on your social media. Always in Monaco. Do you like living there?
«After more than 5 years, it has really become our second home. Tadej and I both come from a small village in Slovenia. But Monaco is actually also a small community. How you live there, that's your choice. Some people feel the need to show off their luxurious lifestyle. We don't. Tadej and I also just go to Carrefour in our tracksuits to do our shopping.»

As the youngest Tour winner ever, Tadej has become a world star. To what extent does that change a person?
«When Tadej suddenly started to become successful, people warned me. 'Pay attention, Urska. Money and fame, it does something to a person.' But Tadej is still just Tadej. That boy was brought up so well. (thinks) Recently he finally dared to reward himself with something he had been dreaming of for so long: a Porsche — he has a great passion for fast cars. Don't look for photos on Instagram, because he will never show off. Our family didn't even know.»

Why do you fit together so well?
«We both have a positive outlook on life. Apart from that, we are actually two opposites: he is spontaneous and goes with the flow. Tadej is never stressed. I, on the other hand, am a perfectionist and get worried quickly. But we complement each other perfectly. He calms me down and I help him plan the more serious things. We take good care of each other and we want everything for each other.»

Last year, Tadej said that he was happier with your fourth place in the Tour of Emilia than with his own victory there.
«That really shows who he is. In 2022, I finished eighth after a very tough mountain stage in the Tour des Femmes. That same day, Tadej had to abandon in San Sebastian. After the finish, he went to the team bus to watch the Tour on TV. He saw me in the leading group the whole time. After the finish, I looked at my mobile phone and read his message: ‘The best DNF (did not finish, ed.) ever’. He himself could not have finished, but that way he saw me live at work. He was so excited.»

Tadej was angry when you were not allowed to go to the Olympic Games last year. It was even one of the reasons why he did not participate himself.
«My non-selection was unjustified. As Slovenian champion I could certainly have achieved great things there. Well, for me it is all about the championships, the classics and the Tour. The Games were never my main goal. But of course it must be a unique feeling to be there one day. (thinks) It is another four years to wait until the Games in Los Angeles. And you never know what life will bring.»
That is right. As a young couple you have already had to deal with a very serious setback.

Next month it will be three years since your mother Darja passed away. Can you ever come to terms with something like that?
«The grieving never stops. Some days I can handle it better than others. It comes in waves. It still happens to me often that something happens in my daily life and I take my mobile phone to text her or call her. As I reach for my mobile phone, I realize: ‘Damn, I can’t do that anymore’. (quietly) Sometimes I just lie in my bed, staring at the ceiling and thinking about everything I still want to say to her.»

What kind of person was your mother?
«She was my rock, my biggest supporter. She was a strong, independent woman. She was the COO of a technology company in Slovenia. Almost the only woman in a tough man’s world. She was very proud of what she had achieved. She taught me to be strong and that everything is possible in life.»

You also started racing again soon after her death. Was that a conscious choice?
«I remember that my father didn’t understand why I got back on my bike. In retrospect, he just wanted to protect me. He knew that sooner or later I was going to get my comeuppance. And that actually happened last year. I slept badly and thought every night: ‘Why did this have to happen to me? Why my mother?’ I can only say now that I feel okay. The sadness is no longer blocking me. It takes time, I guess. Now I want to ride a good race for her. You know: without Tadej I wouldn’t have been able to handle that period. Mom fought for almost two years. First against breast cancer, later against esophageal cancer. It was a long rollercoaster. Tadej was always there. He also loved my mother. Last year he dedicated his victory in Liège to her.»

What was his relationship with your mother like?
«I was once angry with Tadej. I remember my mother getting really mad at me. I thought: ‘What is this? I’m the one who should be angry.’ (emotionally) My mother said: ‘Urska, can’t you see how that boy looks at you? Can’t you see how much he loves you? He’s the best thing that could have happened to you.’ I had to make up with him as soon as possible. She really loved Tadej.»

You’ve been together for six years now…
(interjects) «You want to know when we’re going to get married, right?» Maybe… (laughs) «Let’s just say there’s no rush. We know what we have for each other. I long for the day that I can call Tadej ‘my husband’, but there’s no date set yet. In any case, I dream of having a family together. I’m an only child myself. It’s beautiful to see the love between Tadej, his brother and his two sisters. After six years, they have also become my family. His oldest sister had a baby earlier this year. We are really crazy about that baby.»

Are you excited?
«Who knows, you might see me at the Games in LA with a buggy instead of a bike. (laughs) Joke, huh. First I want to race a bit. By the way, my father promised that he will come and watch more often now that he is retired.»

What else can I wish for you at your new team?
«A good portion of self-confidence, because I still lack that too often. I work just as hard as Tadej. One day I also want to cross the finish line with my hands in the air.»

 

Author: Lies Vandenberghe, Het Laatste Nieuws