Over 10,000 people connected to pedal with him, from Brazil to China, ask him questions and do good together. This morning Tadej Pogacar got on the rollers in the company of a record-breaking group made up of men and women from every corner of the world, of the most disparate ages and conditions.

The MyWhoosh platform organized a special ride and for each participant donated one dollar to the Tadej Pogacar Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by the Slovenian champion to support medical-scientific research on cancer and offer solidarity and support particularly to young people. A success, yet another for the captain of UAE Team Emirates XRG who from his apartment in Monaco "warmed up" on the Hudayriyat route (Abu Dhabi) before the 3 hours awaiting him today on the road. After some connection issues, the 5-time Tour de France winner answered questions from connected enthusiasts, repeatedly remarking how they were better than those he usually receives from journalists "who always ask the same things".

And so, while he waves goodbye to his partner Urska Zigart who's leaving the house, we take the hit (sigh!) and take notes to give space to his answers, off the cuff.

Tadej, thanks to all the people connected today your foundation will receive 10,000 dollars. Are you happy?

"Very much so. I must thank the free application for virtual indoor cycling, fitness and eSports Mywhoosh that will make the donation and all the riders who answered the call. The more people follow me and support the foundation, the more we can help those in need. Over the past two years we've managed to accomplish many beautiful things for the community, for children and students fighting cancer".

What's your relationship with esports?

"I have to say that pedaling and talking is tough. Instead of a social ride it became a Z2 effort... Jokes aside, I have respect for those who pedal a lot on rollers, but honestly they're not for me. I struggle and sweat too much, I already have a pool under me (smiles, ed.). Training indoors is safer than riding on the road, but I'll always prefer the open air. I understand the convenience and I invite everyone to try them".

A 16-year-old Norwegian asks for advice on how to train in winter.

"Well, when the weather is bad, training on rollers is an excellent alternative to riding outside. Indoor sessions require less time to reach the same fitness level, but be careful not to overdo it, you can destroy your body. I learned that during covid, when my coach told me I needed to take a break: I was in too good condition".

What would you suggest to a beginner?

"The best advice I ever received was 'have fun' doing what you do. Along with hard work, it's the only way to get satisfaction. Enjoy it, even off the bike. You can't endure sacrifices if they become a burden. Nothing happens by chance, it takes time to improve and succeed. Never give up".

What did you eat for breakfast?

"Like most mornings, on my plate there's fruit like pineapple, kiwi, blueberries and mango with skyr yogurt or hot porridge, simple to prepare and good. Today I had to rush a bit because I'm not someone who likes to wake up early. If I can, I sleep until 8:30, but at 9 I had to already be on the bike... In fact, after this ride, since you're forcing me to go hard, I think I'll have a second breakfast, especially because I have 3 hours on the road ahead of me now".

The best place to train?

"The area around Monaco where I live because there's always good weather, but also many places in my Slovenia, the area where Urska is from is one of my absolute favorites. I often go on training camps in Tenerife and Sierra Nevada for the altitude, I get a bit bored there but it's definitely the best destination to prepare for the Tour de France. There are many other beautiful places where I've ridden and many others I still want to discover with my bicycle".

Active riders you prefer?

"I admire Mathieu van der Poel and Remco Evenepoel for their motivation and grit, all the sprinters who take great risks, more generally I have respect for many in the peloton".

If you could pedal with someone from the past?

"I almost crossed paths with Alberto Contador, Fabian Cancellara and Tom Boonen, I would have liked to compete with this generation in today's cycling, but I wouldn't go too far back in history".

Will you ever race in gravel?

"It's becoming very popular, as a fan I watched the first world championship and I liked it, but currently I don't have much free time. My calendar is already full of important races, maybe in the future I'll participate in some gravel races, I don't know when, but I'll definitely try this discipline too".

What do you do before a race?

"When I go to sleep I visualize the race the next day, I try to think positive and concentrate to dream of victory during the night, it's not something I do in a structured way but I try to channel my energy in the right direction".

Had you ever pedaled with so many people at the same time?

"No, I've been in a group since I was 9 years old and today you honestly moved me with how many of us there were. It was really nice to sweat early in the morning in your company, thank you all for participating in this ride. See you next time!".