{"id":2012587,"date":"2026-06-26T13:18:40","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T10:18:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2012587"},"modified":"2026-06-26T13:18:40","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T10:18:40","slug":"tadej-keeps-on-surprising-us-the-inside-view-on-how-uae-team-emirates-xrg-have-constructed-tadej-pogacars-assault-on-a-fifth-tour-de-france","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2012587","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;Tadej keeps on surprising us&#8217; \u2013 The inside view on how UAE Team Emirates-XRG have constructed Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s assault on a fifth Tour de France"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-2560-80.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article class=\"m-0 box-border flex flex-row items-center pr-2.5 gap-[15px] w-[278px] h-20 flex-none upnext-article-divider\" role=\"listitem\" aria-label=\"Recommended article 1 of 3\">\n<div class=\"relative flex-none w-20 h-20\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MckhUicBCQLrhqVa4tdPDD-160-80.jpg.webp 160w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MckhUicBCQLrhqVa4tdPDD-80-80.jpg.webp 80w\" sizes=\"80px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex items-center justify-center absolute w-4 h-6 left-0 top-0 bg-white\/90 flex-none z-[1]\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span class=\"font-normal text-base leading-[17px] tracking-[1.3px] uppercase text-black flex-none\">1<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-1.5 w-[173px] h-20 flex-none\">\n<p class=\"font-article-heading font-medium text-base leading-[21px] text-gray-800 w-[173px] line-clamp-3 group-hover:underline\">\n                                    Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s final Tour de France altitude camp on hold as family comes first\n                                <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"m-0 box-border flex flex-row items-center pr-2.5 gap-[15px] w-[278px] h-20 flex-none upnext-article-divider\" role=\"listitem\" aria-label=\"Recommended article 2 of 3\">\n<div class=\"relative flex-none w-20 h-20\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JeP6T3g5zGFCHYHJHHaW74-160-80.jpg.webp 160w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JeP6T3g5zGFCHYHJHHaW74-80-80.jpg.webp 80w\" sizes=\"80px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex items-center justify-center absolute w-[18px] h-6 left-0 top-0 bg-white\/90 flex-none z-[1]\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span class=\"font-normal text-base leading-[17px] tracking-[1.3px] uppercase text-black flex-none\">2<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-1.5 w-[173px] h-20 flex-none\">\n<p class=\"font-article-heading font-medium text-base leading-[21px] text-gray-800 w-[173px] line-clamp-3 group-hover:underline\">\n                                    &#8216;I\u2019d say I\u2019m stronger&#8217; \u2013 Tadej Poga\u010dar reveals test results after completing Tour de France tune-up with Tour de Suisse domination\n                                <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"m-0 box-border flex flex-row items-center pr-2.5 gap-[15px] w-[278px] h-20 flex-none\" role=\"listitem\" aria-label=\"Recommended article 3 of 3\">\n<div class=\"relative flex-none w-20 h-20\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/WHEfA8PfrwjRikdcTccTK-160-80.png.webp 160w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/WHEfA8PfrwjRikdcTccTK-80-80.png.webp 80w\" sizes=\"80px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex items-center justify-center absolute w-[18px] h-6 left-0 top-0 bg-white\/90 flex-none z-[1]\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span class=\"font-normal text-base leading-[17px] tracking-[1.3px] uppercase text-black flex-none\">3<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-1.5 w-[173px] h-20 flex-none\">\n<p class=\"font-article-heading font-medium text-base leading-[21px] text-gray-800 w-[173px] line-clamp-3 group-hover:underline\">\n                                    Who will win the Tour de France 2026? Our definitive ranking of the favourites for the yellow jersey\n                                <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"page-content-onecol flex-1\nnews-article article\n\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"widget-area-group widget-area-group-2col flex flex-wrap box-border\">\n<div id=\"widgetArea16\" class=\"widget-area basis-full md:basis-2\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-2-3 page-widget-area-16\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"hero\" id=\"hero\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-hero widget-hero widget-hero-hero widget-hero widget-hero-fter-news\">\n<div class=\"news-article\">\n<header data-component-name=\"Article:Hero\">\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\nPro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTeams &amp; Riders\n<\/li>\n<li>\nUAE Team Emirates-XRG\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTadej Pogacar\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h1>&#8216;Tadej keeps on surprising us&#8217; \u2013 The inside view on how UAE Team Emirates-XRG have constructed Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s assault on a fifth Tour de France<\/h1>\n<div class=\"byline-social\">\n<div class=\"byline font-ui-heading text-[12px]\">\nFeatures<\/p>\n<div><span><br \/>\nBy<br \/>\nAlasdair Fotheringham <\/span><span><br \/>\npublished<br \/>\n<time data-component-name=\"UI:DateTime\" datetime=\"2026-06-26T13:18:40Z\" class=\"relative-date\"><br \/>\n26 June 2026<br \/>\n<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"strapline\">From mental rest and a meticulously planned countdown to a lot of torque work and sprint training, the jigsaw is a supremely complicated one, UAE&#8217;s Head of Performance explains<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"text-gray-700 mx-auto mb-4 flex items-center justify-start mx-0 my-5 p-0\" id=\"affiliate-disclaimer\" data-component-name=\"AffiliateDisclaimer\" data-hawk-message=\"Affiliate disclaimer removed because hawk deemed there are no affiliate links on this page\">\n<p class=\"text-[var(--affiliate-disclaimer--text-color,inherit))] mb-2 text-[length:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--font-size,0.75rem)] leading-[18px] md:text-[13px] [&amp;&gt;a]:text-inherit [&amp;&gt;a]:underline\">\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here\u2019s how it works.\n<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-widget-type=\"contentparsed\" id=\"content\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-contentparsed widget-content widget-contentparsed-content widget-content-parsed widget-content-parsed-content_document \">\n<div class=\"wcp-item-content\">\n<section class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"box less-space hero-image-wrapper\">\n<figure class=\"mb-0\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-1920-80.jpg.webp 1920w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-1600-80.jpg.webp 1600w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-750-80.jpg.webp 750w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 600px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"font-article-copy text-(--image--text--color) font-article-copy mt-2\"><span class=\"caption-text font-article-copy\">Poga\u010dar has had a stellar year, but how has he done it?<\/span><span class=\"credit font-article-copy\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"text-copy bodyCopy auto paywall-locker\">\n<div data-analytics-id=\"utility-bar\" id=\"utility-bar\" class=\"font-ui-heading flex justify-between items-center py-2 border-t border-b border-gray-300 border-solid mb-5 mx-auto\" data-component-name=\"UtilityBar\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"utility-bar\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div data-component-name=\"Social:Dropdown\" role=\"menu\" id=\"utilitybar__dropdown--share\" aria-labelledby=\"utilitybar__button--share\" class=\"absolute left-0 top-full w-44 bg-white rounded-md shadow-md border border-neutral-200 z-[9996] list-none m-0 py-2 px-3 border-solid\">\n<ul class=\"m-0!\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Facebook<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>X<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Pinterest<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Email<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-share-this-article\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nShare this article\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\"><span class=\"ml-1 inline-flex h-5 px-2 shrink-0 items-center justify-center self-center overflow-hidden whitespace-nowrap rounded-[10px] bg-primary-500 text-[11px] leading-none font-ui-heading font-semibold text-white\">0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-join-the-conversation\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nJoin the conversation\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p>Follow us<\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-add-us-as-a-preferred-source-on-google\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nAdd us as a preferred source on Google\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-subscribe-to-our-newsletter\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-73631df7-ade3-4675-a399-0e6dd9d606f6\">Most of the time when we see Tadej Poga\u010dar in a bike race, he&#8217;s already at the peak of his powers. The only questions that need to be asked are not so much whether he will win, but how and where.<\/p>\n<p>The Tour de France is the hardest of all those racing challenges, though, and taking a fifth one this year would further cement the Slovenian star&#8217;s place amongst the very greatest of the sport. However, while he is the maximum favourite for the final victory, it&#8217;s by no means a given that he&#8217;ll do it.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-73631df7-ade3-4675-a399-0e6dd9d606f6-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">All of which makes the process by which Poga\u010dar has reached a point where he can bid for the Tour for a seventh year running (and with podium finishes on all of them so far) even more relevant.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-6 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-[10px] lg:my-8\" data-component-name=\"JwPlayer:Carousel\" data-jwp-carousel data-jwp-carousel-payload=\"{&quot;ids&quot;:{&quot;playerID&quot;:&quot;jYDCcabO&quot;,&quot;searchPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;divID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;fallbackPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;fallbackDivID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;key&quot;:&quot;X9\/mXVGac0NphghLH9hZaqWA5d3dhAM\/Ih07grnEyMLjuO2E&quot;,&quot;tintLogo&quot;:true,&quot;useSearchPlaylist&quot;:false,&quot;enabled&quot;:true},&quot;signPostingEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;signPostingLinkEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;waitForAdLoad&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnDesktop&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnMobile&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnTablet&quot;:false}\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-nowrap items-center justify-between gap-3 bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-header>\n<div class=\"flex min-w-0 shrink items-center\"><span class=\"inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-sm font-article-heading capitalize leading-5 text-white whitespace-nowrap\"><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-desktop\">Latest Videos From<\/span><span class=\"jwp-carousel-brand inline-flex items-center\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/gmvwmhupgi1715762145.svg\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] block h-[18px] w-auto shrink-0 brightness-0 invert\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"aspect-video w-full min-h-[200px] lg:min-h-[330px] relative overflow-hidden bg-black\" data-jwp-carousel-container>\n<div class=\"absolute inset-0 size-full items-center justify-center bg-white\" data-jwp-carousel-fallback><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/gmvwmhupgi1715762145.svg\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] max-h-12 w-auto\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"min-h-[44px] bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting><a class=\"invisible block truncate text-sm font-bold leading-5 text-white underline decoration-solid underline-offset-2\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting-link href target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-jwp-carousel-signposting-title>Watch full video here: <\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">In the first of a two-part series, <em>Cyclingnews<\/em> talks to UAE Team Emirates-XRG Head of Performance Jeroen Swart about Poga\u010dar and what he believes he can achieve in the Tour de France this year, including why he thinks the four-times winner can still get even better.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"q-a-with-uae-team-emirates-xrg-s-head-of-performance-3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Q&amp;A with UAE Team Emirates-XRG&#8217;s Head of Performance<\/h2>\n<p id=\"elk-bed064c4-8629-4428-af5d-c2fd63ab0e70\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>Cyclingnews (CN): At the start of this season, while you pointed out that two years ago [from the start of 2024 onwards], Poga\u010dar had mproved dramatically, you said, and I&#8217;m quoting you textually &#8220;I think the changes now will be much smaller. It&#8217;s more about being able to sustain that level.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7gnF2TkcErBLX48kHnJeQ-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7gnF2TkcErBLX48kHnJeQ-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;We shouldn&#8217;t get too hung up on a kilo or two in a cyclist&#8217; \u2013 No weight concerns for Tadej Poga\u010dar ahead of Tour de France, says UAE&#8217;s Matxin<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rAsAd4XPiLEaLrbBawWTL3-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rAsAd4XPiLEaLrbBawWTL3-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">By winning the Giro d&#8217;Italia, Jonas Vingegaard has had his strongest Tour de France preparation yet \u2013 but we still have no idea how he&#8217;ll compare with Tadej Poga\u010dar<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KcF9u9WccDE3tHDZkgdCiC-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KcF9u9WccDE3tHDZkgdCiC-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;Tadej watched the Giro and saw how good Jonas Vingegaard was&#8217; &#8211; UAE Team Emirates-XRG &#8216;ready to race hard&#8217; in Tour de France<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>Do you stand by that statement now, having seen what he did in the spring and where he&#8217;s at?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>Jeroen Swart (JS): <\/strong>I do. If we look at Tadej&#8217;s numbers, he definitely is not improving by the same margins as he did before. I have been a little surprised in that we&#8217;ve been able to still eke out some improvement. If you had asked me two years ago, I would have suspected that we would have hit a plateau and that we would have been then focused on maintaining that plateau and to our surprise, he has still improved, and that has helped us as well in terms of his performance on the Classics side as well. That was also aimed at specifically that he&#8217;d gained a few kilos of extra muscle that helped with the explosiveness required for the Classics, so there was a focused training and specific adaptation for that.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-s8zHRb72MuhZmRBmgesHQX\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-s8zHRb72MuhZmRBmgesHQX slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__header\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<footer class=\"newsletter-form__footer \">By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">But his overall performance, if we look across races, has increased very marginally, and we were nevertheless surprised to still see an improvement, which is obviously welcome. Every little bit helps.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fancy-box kiosq-b\" id=\"elk-84c29913-a858-41ab-93c8-ec18dbb2c378\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"fancy_box-title\">More on Tour de France<\/div>\n<div class=\"fancy_box_body\">\n<ul>\n<li>Everything you need to know about the Tour de France<\/li>\n<li>2026 Tour de France route<\/li>\n<li>Tour de France team-by-team guide<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-a935229c-fc49-4c10-b447-1b9836642b84\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>CN: So is it fair to say that the best Tadej could be yet to come?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>JS:<\/strong> That would be so difficult to predict. I would settle for the same Tadej we&#8217;ve had in previous Tours, that would be great. If he manages to improve further, that would certainly be welcome. I would hesitate to think that it&#8217;s still possible, but let&#8217;s wait and see.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Jonas Vingegaard will try, but in reality, no one is likely to upset the Tadej Poga\u010dar show at the Tour de France \u2013 Philippa York analysis<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/WHEfA8PfrwjRikdcTccTK-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/WHEfA8PfrwjRikdcTccTK-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Who will win the Tour de France 2026? Our definitive ranking of the favourites for the yellow jersey<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LpQsdN53Tmuw3mQKgs4r5n-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LpQsdN53Tmuw3mQKgs4r5n-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;He&#8217;s in Tour de France mode&#8217; &#8211; Tadej Poga\u010dar at altitude training camp in Sierra Nevada<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>CN: But you&#8217;re not ruling it out.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>JS: <\/strong>I&#8217;m not ruling anything out. He keeps surprising us and with his level, every year has been a surprise in terms of his ability to continue to improve a little bit here and there. So I wouldn&#8217;t rule it out, but I think the chances are increasingly slimmer each season that he can take another step.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-e1e4ef37-f31d-4013-9308-6842b9080609\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5fWTh76BC8btTP6EC4hb5a-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5fWTh76BC8btTP6EC4hb5a-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5fWTh76BC8btTP6EC4hb5a-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5fWTh76BC8btTP6EC4hb5a-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5fWTh76BC8btTP6EC4hb5a-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5fWTh76BC8btTP6EC4hb5a-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Poga\u010dar is aiming to win a fifth Tour this July <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-9acdc0d6-79a9-471f-b718-90e6d64fb3d8\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>CN: Miguel Indurain was the last male rider to win five Tours, and he won his first when he was 27, which is the same year that Poga\u010dar could win his fifth this July.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>So given the five-year difference in ages to possibly reach that particular landmark, is it fair to say what really matters more now at this point in Tadej career is ensuring his mental resilience remains in place, because you&#8217;ve got the physical side of things more or less dialled?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>JS:<\/strong> I think that point about mental resilience isn&#8217;t just about Tadej, it&#8217;s across the board, in all sports. Sports psychology and mental coaching have become increasingly recognised as a very important part of sports performance, and whether it&#8217;s in professional golfing or professional cycling, it&#8217;s equally as important.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">So that means that there&#8217;s a greater structure and focus than ever before on mental health, performance-related optimisation from a mental perspective. And we&#8217;ve taken specific steps to do that, and to look after that.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The racing has definitely become mentally more challenging, too. It is more full on from the start, and it doesn&#8217;t really let up, you know: There are the odd races or stages where there&#8217;s a hiatus in the sort of attacks and the pace and the peloton can relax a little, but that has become almost the exception and no longer the rule. So every race is mentally very taxing and that can be cumulative.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">I also think there&#8217;s a greater mental stress because of the speeds, the aggression in the racing &#8211; and our riders talk about this &#8211; the risks being taken across the peloton, including by our riders as well, because everybody seems to be pushing the envelope.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Descents have become a step to the next attack, they&#8217;ve become the area where attacks often happen, where the pressure is exerted. So all round, the mental stress of racing has definitely increased substantially.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-aa5adfe6-614c-4e84-a995-ece99093685a\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ge23rcNdL3qvtM54kETsWT-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ge23rcNdL3qvtM54kETsWT-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ge23rcNdL3qvtM54kETsWT-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ge23rcNdL3qvtM54kETsWT-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ge23rcNdL3qvtM54kETsWT-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ge23rcNdL3qvtM54kETsWT-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-5b3c771e-7e36-42a1-a30b-ad7b70d64856\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">At the same time, the younger peloton has emerged as a result of riders developing physically much earlier, particularly in their late teens and early twenties, a time when many of them are developing as individuals and their personality is not even fully formed. The prefrontal cortex is still developing, and you&#8217;re putting these athletes into the most difficult circumstances mentally while they&#8217;re still developing emotionally and neurologically.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The reason why you&#8217;ve asked the question is because it&#8217;s obviously a factor these days and we recognise that and so it&#8217;s something that you have to pay attention to and look after them.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The question is often asked, too, &#8216;When will Tadej stop racing?&#8217; and it will be earlier than other athletes have traditionally done in the past. Athletes used to ride into their mid-30s, sometimes in the case of Alejandro Valverde and others into their 40s.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">I think it&#8217;s unlikely that we&#8217;ll see that. I think we&#8217;ll see earlier retirements, and then there&#8217;s also the aspect of motivation for us with Tadej. We&#8217;ve spoken about it quite regularly, and it&#8217;s important for him to stay motivated and enjoy the sport because as soon as it becomes a drag, it becomes harder to have the level of commitment that you have to have to achieve the heights that he is achieving.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>CN: So does that added mental stress for everybody, not just Tadej, but obviously including him, affect the way you&#8217;ve approached the assault on the fifth Tour win? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>JS: <\/strong>Well, it&#8217;s not just around the Tour, it&#8217;s around the entire season and actually with the whole team. So one of the things that we did do in recent years is that, and I&#8217;m talking from a team-wide basis, was introduce our Gen Z team into 1.1, 2.1 races, where we are able to substitute in Gen Z riders and allow our WorldTour riders to take more time out, because we do know and recognise that they require periods of recovery and a large part of that is mental. So we build that into each rider&#8217;s calendar and [UAE sports manager] Joxean Fern\u00e1ndez Matxin does an excellent job of that.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">He has found an absolutely phenomenal balance in terms of bringing riders both opportunities but also the periods of recovery that they need and so every rider has a break in the season where they&#8217;re able to just go home where they reset mentally and physically, and that helps in terms of then returning with increased mental vigour and focus.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">In Tadej&#8217;s case specifically, it&#8217;s the same thing but also focused around maintaining his motivation while also not overloading him in terms of the racing calendar, and so you&#8217;ll see his racing calendar is very much focused around his ambitions and goals, and further to that, it&#8217;s not peppered with races that aren&#8217;t meaningful. So it&#8217;s a very carefully constructed calendar that ensures that he is able to tackle the goals that he wants to tackle while also being prepared physically and mentally for the goals coming up.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-265864ea-6e00-41fd-a481-e11f09b88d9c\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/N46yNzMGxXeg25MbxhgryL-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/N46yNzMGxXeg25MbxhgryL-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/N46yNzMGxXeg25MbxhgryL-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/N46yNzMGxXeg25MbxhgryL-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/N46yNzMGxXeg25MbxhgryL-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/N46yNzMGxXeg25MbxhgryL-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Mental stress is an important factor to manage <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-27fbdef0-eee4-4626-b8a1-8e4a15003316\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>CN: This year, it&#8217;s a similar kind of Tour route to 2024, as in we&#8217;ve got a very complicated first week, and then again in the third. How does that change things in terms of the physiological and preparation side? Are you taking a similar approach to 2024, perhaps, when we had the Alps so soon?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>JS: <\/strong>The approach is actually very similar, but I don&#8217;t think the specific parcours of this year&#8217;s Tour is a reason to change how we do things. In the years when he did the Giro, it was obviously different, but in the years that he hasn&#8217;t done the Giro and that&#8217;s the majority of the last few years, the build-up has been very similar to this one: a focus on the Classics, a reset and then a build-up towards the Tour, which requires a different physiological stressor [physical or biological factors that disrupt the body&#8217;s internal balance &#8211; Ed] in terms of the training stimulus. It requires a different set of performance characteristics and so it&#8217;s aimed at achieving those. It doesn&#8217;t matter whether the first week is peppered with difficult stages or whether that&#8217;s in the second week, he needs to arrive at the Tour in top condition, and so that is really what our focus is on.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>CN: When it comes to general preparation of the UAE athletes and Tadej in particular, have you looked at other sports outside cycling a lot, a little or just a bit, as a reference point? Are there any specific ones that you have found helpful?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>JS: <\/strong>I wouldn&#8217;t say so. We look at all the science and the evolution of sports performance across the board. So sometimes there are, you know, little anecdotes that come through from running, from other sports that we then look into, and sometimes innovation happens in other sports, and then we will assess that. And then over time it will become part of our practice.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">But it&#8217;s not that often that you see other sports demonstrating new techniques. I would say the ones that we have gained insights from would be, for instance, running and triathlon.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>CN: Could you give me an example?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>JS:<\/strong> Sure. In running and in triathlon, we&#8217;ve increasingly used heat training in previous years, [also] the aerodynamic side. Triathlon is unlimited. There are no restrictions on the kinds of aerodynamic changes that you can adopt on the bike and in terms of the rider&#8217;s position, and so triathlon often innovates in that space.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">We&#8217;re then constrained by the UCI regulations. So we have to look at changes that are adopted in triathlon and see whether or not a modification of those can be somehow implemented within the UCI&#8217;s rules. So that&#8217;s an example.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Aero gains is a huge part of triathlon, too, and then in the training side of things, as I said, heat training is an example that was adopted across multiple different endurance sports and then running in particular. Then it was adopted by cycling and triathlon and all endurance disciplines collectively.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-ac0869aa-c45a-47fd-b979-52e0afba788f\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ReT5G2r5Y3FvGG77fKWDcj-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ReT5G2r5Y3FvGG77fKWDcj-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ReT5G2r5Y3FvGG77fKWDcj-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ReT5G2r5Y3FvGG77fKWDcj-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ReT5G2r5Y3FvGG77fKWDcj-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ReT5G2r5Y3FvGG77fKWDcj-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Getting dialled aerodynamically is more and more important <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-a6f15083-61b0-4460-ae70-fabdee26545e\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>CN: Have you continued working on his sprints in high mountains because this is something you mentioned in previous interviews as being very important?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>JS: <\/strong>It&#8217;s part of our altitude training protocol for different reasons. Doing sprints at altitude reverses some of the negative effects of being at altitude, which is that blood vessels constrict and therefore limit your ability to do high-intensity accelerations at altitude.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">I know that other teams, Jumbo as they were back then [Visma-Lease a Bike], were doing that prior to us, and so sometimes we look at some of the things that other teams are doing while we&#8217;re studying the literature and we met with the scientists in that space to optimise our protocol and implementation of that protocol.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">So that&#8217;s something that we definitely do, and continue to do, and it&#8217;s certainly beneficial.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>CN: What about his low-cadence torque training, which has also been mentioned as significant?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>JS: <\/strong>That&#8217;s something that&#8217;s continued too, and I think some of his improvements in the last seasons are still attributable to improvements in torque. In cycling we talk about mean maximum power, which is the mean value for a particular duration that you can produce a power output and we have mean maximal torque as well.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">So we know that an athlete can sustain a maximal torque for say five minutes or 10 minutes or 15 minutes and it declines with increasing duration. And Tadej&#8217;s mean maximum torque values have continued to increase over the last three years that we&#8217;ve been focused on that kind of work.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">And because torque is a component of power that is possibly responsible for some of the gains that we&#8217;ve made, we can infer that there are continued improvements in that area as well.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-b5adfbeb-721f-48f5-ae7a-793970fe811b\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ch3Q4QAhUkddsZzu3siGVF-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ch3Q4QAhUkddsZzu3siGVF-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ch3Q4QAhUkddsZzu3siGVF-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ch3Q4QAhUkddsZzu3siGVF-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ch3Q4QAhUkddsZzu3siGVF-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ch3Q4QAhUkddsZzu3siGVF-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-b414de9c-0e8c-45d7-a58f-2121b933ed05\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>CN: When it comes to Poga\u010dar&#8217;s use of standing and seated accelerations, I couldn&#8217;t help noticing during Li\u00e8ge that as far as I could see from the TV cameras, he used a very strong standing acceleration on the C\u00f4te de la Redoute and then a seated one on the Roche-aux-Faucons to finally &#8216;get rid of&#8217; <\/strong><strong>Paul Seixas<\/strong><strong>. Was that a planned strategy or was that switching around simply because Tadej felt like it?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>JS:<\/strong> That was his own decision, that was purely his own decision to attack in that way.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Part of that race he was assessing where he could potentially uncover a weakness in Seixas&#8217; ability and it seemed that the out-of-the-saddle, very high intensity attacks were not having the desired effect of shaking him loose. So then he decided to do a very high-intensity effort but sustained for a longer duration, and that&#8217;s something that you can only do in the saddle and that then had the desired effect of creating the gap.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">So I think it was just a matter of testing out the different aspects of where he could exploit a weakness. And eventually he found it.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>Part 2 of this interview, including more information on Poga\u010dar&#8217;s capacities as a racer and rider, will be published next week.<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr id=\"elk-2cfe29ff-a258-483c-bb5a-bdaaa000fadb\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\n<p id=\"elk-311d8f0d-4375-40ae-b72d-6548b94185a5\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><em><strong>The world\u2019s biggest bike race deserves world-class coverage. Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to our unrivalled reporting of the 2026 Tour de France. From Barcelona through to Paris, our experienced team will bring you breaking news, expert insight, and in-depth coverage from every stage as the battle for the yellow jersey plays out. Plus, access the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on the go! <\/strong><\/em><u><em><strong>Find out more.<\/strong><\/em><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block mb-5\" id=\"articleTag\" data-component-name=\"PostArticleLinks\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"post-article-links\">\n<div class=\"border-b border-b-black border-solid py-2.5 text-black font-bold uppercase\">TOPICS<\/div>\n<nav class=\"py-2.5 flex gap-2.5 flex-wrap\" data-analytics-id=\"article-tag\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-tag\">\n<p>Road<\/p>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"slice-container-authorBio-s8zHRb72MuhZmRBmgesHQX\" class=\"slice-container slice-author-bio authorBio-s8zHRb72MuhZmRBmgesHQX slice-container-authorBio\">\n<div class=\"author author__default-layout author--separator author--collapsible\" data-hydrate=\"true\">\n<div class=\"author__header\">\n<div class=\"author__avatar-block\">\n<figure class=\"image-wrapped__wrapper\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"false\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__widthsetter\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__aspect-padding\">\n<div><source class=\"author__avatar image-wrapped__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ-140-80.jpg.webp 140w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ.jpg\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ.jpg\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__heading\">\n<div class=\"author__name\">Alasdair Fotheringham<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__social\">\n<nav class=\"button-social-group author__social-buttons\" aria-labelledby=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">\n<div id=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">Social Links Navigation<\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__bio-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"author__biography\">\n<p>Alasdair Fotheringham has been reporting on cycling since 1991. He has covered every Tour de France since 1992 bar one, as well as numerous other bike races of all shapes and sizes, ranging from the Olympic Games in 2008 to the now sadly defunct Subida a Urkiola hill climb in Spain. As well as working for <em>Cyclingnews<\/em>, he has also written for <em>The Independent<\/em>,\u00a0 <em>The Guardian<\/em>,\u00a0 <em>ProCycling<\/em>, <em>The Express<\/em> and <em>Reuters<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"relative max-w-[1070px] viafoura-twig-component mt-6 mx-4 lg:mx-0\" data-component-name=\"Viafoura:Comments\" data-nosnippet data-community-guidelines-text=\"&lt;p class=&apos;vfcustom-community-guidelines&apos;&gt;Please follow our &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/about\/#section-community-guidelines&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;community guidelines&lt;\/a&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;\" data-join-the-conversation-text=\"Join the Conversation\">\n<div class=\"absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-full flex items-center justify-center z-50 bg-white\/90 border-1 rounded-b-[var(--comment-widget-border-radius,0)]\">\n<div class=\"p-2 text-center\">\n<p class=\"mb-3 text-lg!\">You must confirm your public display name before commenting<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-3 text-sm!\">Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"mx-2 my-5 sm:mx-0\">\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-adviser:hybrid\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Read more<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7gnF2TkcErBLX48kHnJeQ-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7gnF2TkcErBLX48kHnJeQ-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7gnF2TkcErBLX48kHnJeQ-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7gnF2TkcErBLX48kHnJeQ-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7gnF2TkcErBLX48kHnJeQ-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;We shouldn&#8217;t get too hung up on a kilo or two in a cyclist&#8217; \u2013 No weight concerns for Tadej Poga\u010dar ahead of Tour de France, says UAE&#8217;s Matxin<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rAsAd4XPiLEaLrbBawWTL3-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rAsAd4XPiLEaLrbBawWTL3-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rAsAd4XPiLEaLrbBawWTL3-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rAsAd4XPiLEaLrbBawWTL3-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rAsAd4XPiLEaLrbBawWTL3-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">By winning the Giro d&#8217;Italia, Jonas Vingegaard has had his strongest Tour de France preparation yet \u2013 but we still have no idea how he&#8217;ll compare with Tadej Poga\u010dar<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KcF9u9WccDE3tHDZkgdCiC-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KcF9u9WccDE3tHDZkgdCiC-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KcF9u9WccDE3tHDZkgdCiC-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KcF9u9WccDE3tHDZkgdCiC-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KcF9u9WccDE3tHDZkgdCiC-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Tadej watched the Giro and saw how good Jonas Vingegaard was&#8217; &#8211; UAE Team Emirates-XRG &#8216;ready to race hard&#8217; in Tour de France<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Jonas Vingegaard will try, but in reality, no one is likely to upset the Tadej Poga\u010dar show at the Tour de France \u2013 Philippa York analysis<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/WHEfA8PfrwjRikdcTccTK-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/WHEfA8PfrwjRikdcTccTK-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/WHEfA8PfrwjRikdcTccTK-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/WHEfA8PfrwjRikdcTccTK-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/WHEfA8PfrwjRikdcTccTK-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Who will win the Tour de France 2026? Our definitive ranking of the favourites for the yellow jersey<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LpQsdN53Tmuw3mQKgs4r5n-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LpQsdN53Tmuw3mQKgs4r5n-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LpQsdN53Tmuw3mQKgs4r5n-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LpQsdN53Tmuw3mQKgs4r5n-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LpQsdN53Tmuw3mQKgs4r5n-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;He&#8217;s in Tour de France mode&#8217; &#8211; Tadej Poga\u010dar at altitude training camp in Sierra Nevada<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-category\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Teams &amp; Riders<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/emy9d3Pz2Bn5opRnPDhAhY-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/emy9d3Pz2Bn5opRnPDhAhY-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/emy9d3Pz2Bn5opRnPDhAhY-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/emy9d3Pz2Bn5opRnPDhAhY-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/emy9d3Pz2Bn5opRnPDhAhY-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe announce full Tour de France team and &#8216;dual leadership approach&#8217; around Remco Evenepoel and Florian Lipowitz<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5hyiDva6XRbQL2pi4MTQUd-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5hyiDva6XRbQL2pi4MTQUd-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5hyiDva6XRbQL2pi4MTQUd-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5hyiDva6XRbQL2pi4MTQUd-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5hyiDva6XRbQL2pi4MTQUd-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Jayco AlUla hedge Tour de France stage hunting bets with options from Ben O&#8217;Connor to Michael Matthews and Pascal Ackermann<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bXQT53HpJF6jJKzoLSaAXU-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bXQT53HpJF6jJKzoLSaAXU-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bXQT53HpJF6jJKzoLSaAXU-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bXQT53HpJF6jJKzoLSaAXU-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bXQT53HpJF6jJKzoLSaAXU-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Another Tour de France rider at risk? Visma-Lease a Bike say Edoardo Affini &#8216;will be monitored&#8217; after high-speed crash at Italian Road Championships<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Tour de France team-by-team guide \u2013 Line-up, leaders and ambitions for every squad on the start list<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NQu72imttAwpz7zZTTFxcN-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NQu72imttAwpz7zZTTFxcN-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NQu72imttAwpz7zZTTFxcN-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NQu72imttAwpz7zZTTFxcN-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NQu72imttAwpz7zZTTFxcN-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Full of confidence and with a real sense of anticipation&#8217; \u2013 Can Biniam Girmay recapture his 2024 Tour de France form with this NSN lead-out?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6QKDUQdtVSkXvEW6GNYQHd-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6QKDUQdtVSkXvEW6GNYQHd-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6QKDUQdtVSkXvEW6GNYQHd-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6QKDUQdtVSkXvEW6GNYQHd-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6QKDUQdtVSkXvEW6GNYQHd-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">With no Tour de France, Primo\u017e Rogli\u010d will compete at Slovenian National Championships for first time since 2020 as Tadej Poga\u010dar skips both races<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-articletype\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Features<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gfAaSpgaBD5eiD77JQmbFF-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gfAaSpgaBD5eiD77JQmbFF-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gfAaSpgaBD5eiD77JQmbFF-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gfAaSpgaBD5eiD77JQmbFF-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gfAaSpgaBD5eiD77JQmbFF-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Safety<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">The High Temperature Protocol, switching dates, racing in the morning \u2013 What could the future of the Tour de France look like as summer temperatures continue to rise?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Tour de France team-by-team guide \u2013 Line-up, leaders and ambitions for every squad on the start list<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/eJrCHdKTBj9hHGTR8wCCMa-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/eJrCHdKTBj9hHGTR8wCCMa-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/eJrCHdKTBj9hHGTR8wCCMa-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/eJrCHdKTBj9hHGTR8wCCMa-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/eJrCHdKTBj9hHGTR8wCCMa-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;It&#8217;s crazy how much can change in a year&#8217; \u2013 Lauren Dickson&#8217;s remarkable rise from cycling newbie to smashing Grand Tours with Demi Vollering<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Jonas Vingegaard will try, but in reality, no one is likely to upset the Tadej Poga\u010dar show at the Tour de France \u2013 Philippa York analysis<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/w2yKVk6YqjVoyao7mRTdRT-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/w2yKVk6YqjVoyao7mRTdRT-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/w2yKVk6YqjVoyao7mRTdRT-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/w2yKVk6YqjVoyao7mRTdRT-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/w2yKVk6YqjVoyao7mRTdRT-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Cycling Kit &amp; Accessories<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">New Prologo MIG AIR CPC and MIG CPC gloves ensure aerodynamics, fit and comfort<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F9aNQKLW9rmhuXWVgxXCsH-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F9aNQKLW9rmhuXWVgxXCsH-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F9aNQKLW9rmhuXWVgxXCsH-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F9aNQKLW9rmhuXWVgxXCsH-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F9aNQKLW9rmhuXWVgxXCsH-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Altitude top-ups, recons, and down time \u2013 What are the yellow jersey hopefuls up to ahead of the Tour de France?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"widgetArea17\" class=\"widget-area md:basis-1\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-1-3 page-widget-area-17\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"dynamic\" id=\"popular-data\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-dynamic widget-popular-data widget-dynamic-popular-data widget-dynamic-fter-popular-box\">\n<div class=\"wdn-fte-pb pos-relative space-t20\n\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-popularBox\" class=\"slice-container popular-box-slice popularBox slice-container-popularBox\">\n<section data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"popular-box\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label__tab popular-box__label__tab--active\" role=\"heading\">LATEST ARTICLES<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ol class=\"popular-box__articles-list popular-box__articles-list--active\">\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__image-wrapper\">\n<div><source class=\"popular-box__article-list__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-320-80.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-640-80.jpg.webp 640w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-720-80.jpg.webp 720w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-1280-80.jpg.webp 1280w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR.jpg\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR.jpg\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">1<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">&#8216;Tadej keeps on surprising us&#8217; \u2013 The inside view on how UAE Team Emirates-XRG have constructed Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s assault on a fifth Tour de France<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">2<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">Still-bandaged Paul Seixas finally back training on the road in Alps ahead of Tour de France debut<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">3<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">Franziska Koch scores first German time trial title after double road race victories<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">4<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">Former world champion Lizzie Deignan takes up sports director role with British Cycling ahead of LA Olympics<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">5<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">Eurobike 2026: Five new bikes that caught my eye<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"page-content-onecol flex-1\nnews-article article\n\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"widget-area-group widget-area-group-2col flex flex-wrap box-border\">\n<div id=\"widgetArea16\" class=\"widget-area basis-full md:basis-2\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-2-3 page-widget-area-16\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"hero\" id=\"hero\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-hero widget-hero widget-hero-hero widget-hero widget-hero-fter-news\">\n<div class=\"news-article\">\n<header data-component-name=\"Article:Hero\">\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\nPro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTeams &amp; Riders\n<\/li>\n<li>\nUAE Team Emirates-XRG\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTadej Pogacar\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h1>&#8216;Tadej keeps on surprising us&#8217; \u2013 The inside view on how UAE Team Emirates-XRG have constructed Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s assault on a fifth Tour de France<\/h1>\n<div class=\"byline-social\">\n<div class=\"byline font-ui-heading text-[12px]\">\nFeatures<\/p>\n<div><span><br \/>\nBy<br \/>\nAlasdair Fotheringham <\/span><span><br \/>\npublished<br \/>\n<time data-component-name=\"UI:DateTime\" datetime=\"2026-06-26T13:18:40Z\" class=\"relative-date\"><br \/>\n26 June 2026<br \/>\n<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"strapline\">From mental rest and a meticulously planned countdown to a lot of torque work and sprint training, the jigsaw is a supremely complicated one, UAE&#8217;s Head of Performance explains<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"text-gray-700 mx-auto mb-4 flex items-center justify-start mx-0 my-5 p-0\" id=\"affiliate-disclaimer\" data-component-name=\"AffiliateDisclaimer\" data-hawk-message=\"Affiliate disclaimer removed because hawk deemed there are no affiliate links on this page\">\n<p class=\"text-[var(--affiliate-disclaimer--text-color,inherit))] mb-2 text-[length:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--font-size,0.75rem)] leading-[18px] md:text-[13px] [&amp;&gt;a]:text-inherit [&amp;&gt;a]:underline\">\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here\u2019s how it works.\n<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-widget-type=\"contentparsed\" id=\"content\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-contentparsed widget-content widget-contentparsed-content widget-content-parsed widget-content-parsed-content_document \">\n<div class=\"wcp-item-content\">\n<section class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"box less-space hero-image-wrapper\">\n<figure class=\"mb-0\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-1920-80.jpg.webp 1920w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-1600-80.jpg.webp 1600w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-750-80.jpg.webp 750w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 600px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"font-article-copy text-(--image--text--color) font-article-copy mt-2\"><span class=\"caption-text font-article-copy\">Poga\u010dar has had a stellar year, but how has he done it?<\/span><span class=\"credit font-article-copy\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"text-copy bodyCopy auto paywall-locker\">\n<div data-analytics-id=\"utility-bar\" id=\"utility-bar\" class=\"font-ui-heading flex justify-between items-center py-2 border-t border-b border-gray-300 border-solid mb-5 mx-auto\" data-component-name=\"UtilityBar\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"utility-bar\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div data-component-name=\"Social:Dropdown\" role=\"menu\" id=\"utilitybar__dropdown--share\" aria-labelledby=\"utilitybar__button--share\" class=\"absolute left-0 top-full w-44 bg-white rounded-md shadow-md border border-neutral-200 z-[9996] list-none m-0 py-2 px-3 border-solid\">\n<ul class=\"m-0!\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Facebook<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>X<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Pinterest<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Email<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-share-this-article\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nShare this article\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\"><span class=\"ml-1 inline-flex h-5 px-2 shrink-0 items-center justify-center self-center overflow-hidden whitespace-nowrap rounded-[10px] bg-primary-500 text-[11px] leading-none font-ui-heading font-semibold text-white\">0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-join-the-conversation\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nJoin the conversation\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p>Follow us<\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-add-us-as-a-preferred-source-on-google\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nAdd us as a preferred source on Google\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-subscribe-to-our-newsletter\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-73631df7-ade3-4675-a399-0e6dd9d606f6\">Most of the time when we see Tadej Poga\u010dar in a bike race, he&#8217;s already at the peak of his powers. The only questions that need to be asked are not so much whether he will win, but how and where.<\/p>\n<p>The Tour de France is the hardest of all those racing challenges, though, and taking a fifth one this year would further cement the Slovenian star&#8217;s place amongst the very greatest of the sport. However, while he is the maximum favourite for the final victory, it&#8217;s by no means a given that he&#8217;ll do it.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-73631df7-ade3-4675-a399-0e6dd9d606f6-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">All of which makes the process by which Poga\u010dar has reached a point where he can bid for the Tour for a seventh year running (and with podium finishes on all of them so far) even more relevant.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-6 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-[10px] lg:my-8\" data-component-name=\"JwPlayer:Carousel\" data-jwp-carousel data-jwp-carousel-payload=\"{&quot;ids&quot;:{&quot;playerID&quot;:&quot;jYDCcabO&quot;,&quot;searchPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;divID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;fallbackPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;fallbackDivID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;key&quot;:&quot;X9\/mXVGac0NphghLH9hZaqWA5d3dhAM\/Ih07grnEyMLjuO2E&quot;,&quot;tintLogo&quot;:true,&quot;useSearchPlaylist&quot;:false,&quot;enabled&quot;:true},&quot;signPostingEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;signPostingLinkEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;waitForAdLoad&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnDesktop&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnMobile&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnTablet&quot;:false}\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-nowrap items-center justify-between gap-3 bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-header>\n<div class=\"flex min-w-0 shrink items-center\"><span class=\"inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-sm font-article-heading capitalize leading-5 text-white whitespace-nowrap\"><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-desktop\">Latest Videos From<\/span><span class=\"jwp-carousel-brand inline-flex items-center\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/gmvwmhupgi1715762145.svg\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] block h-[18px] w-auto shrink-0 brightness-0 invert\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"aspect-video w-full min-h-[200px] lg:min-h-[330px] relative overflow-hidden bg-black\" data-jwp-carousel-container>\n<div class=\"absolute inset-0 size-full items-center justify-center bg-white\" data-jwp-carousel-fallback><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/gmvwmhupgi1715762145.svg\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] max-h-12 w-auto\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"min-h-[44px] bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting><a class=\"invisible block truncate text-sm font-bold leading-5 text-white underline decoration-solid underline-offset-2\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting-link href target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-jwp-carousel-signposting-title>Watch full video here: <\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">In the first of a two-part series, <em>Cyclingnews<\/em> talks to UAE Team Emirates-XRG Head of Performance Jeroen Swart about Poga\u010dar and what he believes he can achieve in the Tour de France this year, including why he thinks the four-times winner can still get even better.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"q-a-with-uae-team-emirates-xrg-s-head-of-performance-3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Q&amp;A with UAE Team Emirates-XRG&#8217;s Head of Performance<\/h2>\n<p id=\"elk-bed064c4-8629-4428-af5d-c2fd63ab0e70\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>Cyclingnews (CN): At the start of this season, while you pointed out that two years ago [from the start of 2024 onwards], Poga\u010dar had mproved dramatically, you said, and I&#8217;m quoting you textually &#8220;I think the changes now will be much smaller. It&#8217;s more about being able to sustain that level.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7gnF2TkcErBLX48kHnJeQ-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7gnF2TkcErBLX48kHnJeQ-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;We shouldn&#8217;t get too hung up on a kilo or two in a cyclist&#8217; \u2013 No weight concerns for Tadej Poga\u010dar ahead of Tour de France, says UAE&#8217;s Matxin<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rAsAd4XPiLEaLrbBawWTL3-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rAsAd4XPiLEaLrbBawWTL3-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">By winning the Giro d&#8217;Italia, Jonas Vingegaard has had his strongest Tour de France preparation yet \u2013 but we still have no idea how he&#8217;ll compare with Tadej Poga\u010dar<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KcF9u9WccDE3tHDZkgdCiC-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KcF9u9WccDE3tHDZkgdCiC-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;Tadej watched the Giro and saw how good Jonas Vingegaard was&#8217; &#8211; UAE Team Emirates-XRG &#8216;ready to race hard&#8217; in Tour de France<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>Do you stand by that statement now, having seen what he did in the spring and where he&#8217;s at?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>Jeroen Swart (JS): <\/strong>I do. If we look at Tadej&#8217;s numbers, he definitely is not improving by the same margins as he did before. I have been a little surprised in that we&#8217;ve been able to still eke out some improvement. If you had asked me two years ago, I would have suspected that we would have hit a plateau and that we would have been then focused on maintaining that plateau and to our surprise, he has still improved, and that has helped us as well in terms of his performance on the Classics side as well. That was also aimed at specifically that he&#8217;d gained a few kilos of extra muscle that helped with the explosiveness required for the Classics, so there was a focused training and specific adaptation for that.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-s8zHRb72MuhZmRBmgesHQX\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-s8zHRb72MuhZmRBmgesHQX slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__header\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<footer class=\"newsletter-form__footer \">By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">But his overall performance, if we look across races, has increased very marginally, and we were nevertheless surprised to still see an improvement, which is obviously welcome. Every little bit helps.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fancy-box kiosq-b\" id=\"elk-84c29913-a858-41ab-93c8-ec18dbb2c378\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"fancy_box-title\">More on Tour de France<\/div>\n<div class=\"fancy_box_body\">\n<ul>\n<li>Everything you need to know about the Tour de France<\/li>\n<li>2026 Tour de France route<\/li>\n<li>Tour de France team-by-team guide<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-a935229c-fc49-4c10-b447-1b9836642b84\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>CN: So is it fair to say that the best Tadej could be yet to come?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>JS:<\/strong> That would be so difficult to predict. I would settle for the same Tadej we&#8217;ve had in previous Tours, that would be great. If he manages to improve further, that would certainly be welcome. I would hesitate to think that it&#8217;s still possible, but let&#8217;s wait and see.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Jonas Vingegaard will try, but in reality, no one is likely to upset the Tadej Poga\u010dar show at the Tour de France \u2013 Philippa York analysis<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/WHEfA8PfrwjRikdcTccTK-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/WHEfA8PfrwjRikdcTccTK-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Who will win the Tour de France 2026? Our definitive ranking of the favourites for the yellow jersey<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LpQsdN53Tmuw3mQKgs4r5n-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LpQsdN53Tmuw3mQKgs4r5n-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;He&#8217;s in Tour de France mode&#8217; &#8211; Tadej Poga\u010dar at altitude training camp in Sierra Nevada<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>CN: But you&#8217;re not ruling it out.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>JS: <\/strong>I&#8217;m not ruling anything out. He keeps surprising us and with his level, every year has been a surprise in terms of his ability to continue to improve a little bit here and there. So I wouldn&#8217;t rule it out, but I think the chances are increasingly slimmer each season that he can take another step.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-e1e4ef37-f31d-4013-9308-6842b9080609\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5fWTh76BC8btTP6EC4hb5a-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5fWTh76BC8btTP6EC4hb5a-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5fWTh76BC8btTP6EC4hb5a-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5fWTh76BC8btTP6EC4hb5a-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5fWTh76BC8btTP6EC4hb5a-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5fWTh76BC8btTP6EC4hb5a-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Poga\u010dar is aiming to win a fifth Tour this July <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-9acdc0d6-79a9-471f-b718-90e6d64fb3d8\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>CN: Miguel Indurain was the last male rider to win five Tours, and he won his first when he was 27, which is the same year that Poga\u010dar could win his fifth this July.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>So given the five-year difference in ages to possibly reach that particular landmark, is it fair to say what really matters more now at this point in Tadej career is ensuring his mental resilience remains in place, because you&#8217;ve got the physical side of things more or less dialled?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>JS:<\/strong> I think that point about mental resilience isn&#8217;t just about Tadej, it&#8217;s across the board, in all sports. Sports psychology and mental coaching have become increasingly recognised as a very important part of sports performance, and whether it&#8217;s in professional golfing or professional cycling, it&#8217;s equally as important.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">So that means that there&#8217;s a greater structure and focus than ever before on mental health, performance-related optimisation from a mental perspective. And we&#8217;ve taken specific steps to do that, and to look after that.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The racing has definitely become mentally more challenging, too. It is more full on from the start, and it doesn&#8217;t really let up, you know: There are the odd races or stages where there&#8217;s a hiatus in the sort of attacks and the pace and the peloton can relax a little, but that has become almost the exception and no longer the rule. So every race is mentally very taxing and that can be cumulative.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">I also think there&#8217;s a greater mental stress because of the speeds, the aggression in the racing &#8211; and our riders talk about this &#8211; the risks being taken across the peloton, including by our riders as well, because everybody seems to be pushing the envelope.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Descents have become a step to the next attack, they&#8217;ve become the area where attacks often happen, where the pressure is exerted. So all round, the mental stress of racing has definitely increased substantially.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-aa5adfe6-614c-4e84-a995-ece99093685a\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ge23rcNdL3qvtM54kETsWT-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ge23rcNdL3qvtM54kETsWT-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ge23rcNdL3qvtM54kETsWT-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ge23rcNdL3qvtM54kETsWT-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ge23rcNdL3qvtM54kETsWT-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ge23rcNdL3qvtM54kETsWT-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-5b3c771e-7e36-42a1-a30b-ad7b70d64856\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">At the same time, the younger peloton has emerged as a result of riders developing physically much earlier, particularly in their late teens and early twenties, a time when many of them are developing as individuals and their personality is not even fully formed. The prefrontal cortex is still developing, and you&#8217;re putting these athletes into the most difficult circumstances mentally while they&#8217;re still developing emotionally and neurologically.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The reason why you&#8217;ve asked the question is because it&#8217;s obviously a factor these days and we recognise that and so it&#8217;s something that you have to pay attention to and look after them.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The question is often asked, too, &#8216;When will Tadej stop racing?&#8217; and it will be earlier than other athletes have traditionally done in the past. Athletes used to ride into their mid-30s, sometimes in the case of Alejandro Valverde and others into their 40s.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">I think it&#8217;s unlikely that we&#8217;ll see that. I think we&#8217;ll see earlier retirements, and then there&#8217;s also the aspect of motivation for us with Tadej. We&#8217;ve spoken about it quite regularly, and it&#8217;s important for him to stay motivated and enjoy the sport because as soon as it becomes a drag, it becomes harder to have the level of commitment that you have to have to achieve the heights that he is achieving.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>CN: So does that added mental stress for everybody, not just Tadej, but obviously including him, affect the way you&#8217;ve approached the assault on the fifth Tour win? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>JS: <\/strong>Well, it&#8217;s not just around the Tour, it&#8217;s around the entire season and actually with the whole team. So one of the things that we did do in recent years is that, and I&#8217;m talking from a team-wide basis, was introduce our Gen Z team into 1.1, 2.1 races, where we are able to substitute in Gen Z riders and allow our WorldTour riders to take more time out, because we do know and recognise that they require periods of recovery and a large part of that is mental. So we build that into each rider&#8217;s calendar and [UAE sports manager] Joxean Fern\u00e1ndez Matxin does an excellent job of that.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">He has found an absolutely phenomenal balance in terms of bringing riders both opportunities but also the periods of recovery that they need and so every rider has a break in the season where they&#8217;re able to just go home where they reset mentally and physically, and that helps in terms of then returning with increased mental vigour and focus.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">In Tadej&#8217;s case specifically, it&#8217;s the same thing but also focused around maintaining his motivation while also not overloading him in terms of the racing calendar, and so you&#8217;ll see his racing calendar is very much focused around his ambitions and goals, and further to that, it&#8217;s not peppered with races that aren&#8217;t meaningful. So it&#8217;s a very carefully constructed calendar that ensures that he is able to tackle the goals that he wants to tackle while also being prepared physically and mentally for the goals coming up.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-265864ea-6e00-41fd-a481-e11f09b88d9c\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/N46yNzMGxXeg25MbxhgryL-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/N46yNzMGxXeg25MbxhgryL-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/N46yNzMGxXeg25MbxhgryL-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/N46yNzMGxXeg25MbxhgryL-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/N46yNzMGxXeg25MbxhgryL-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/N46yNzMGxXeg25MbxhgryL-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Mental stress is an important factor to manage <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-27fbdef0-eee4-4626-b8a1-8e4a15003316\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>CN: This year, it&#8217;s a similar kind of Tour route to 2024, as in we&#8217;ve got a very complicated first week, and then again in the third. How does that change things in terms of the physiological and preparation side? Are you taking a similar approach to 2024, perhaps, when we had the Alps so soon?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>JS: <\/strong>The approach is actually very similar, but I don&#8217;t think the specific parcours of this year&#8217;s Tour is a reason to change how we do things. In the years when he did the Giro, it was obviously different, but in the years that he hasn&#8217;t done the Giro and that&#8217;s the majority of the last few years, the build-up has been very similar to this one: a focus on the Classics, a reset and then a build-up towards the Tour, which requires a different physiological stressor [physical or biological factors that disrupt the body&#8217;s internal balance &#8211; Ed] in terms of the training stimulus. It requires a different set of performance characteristics and so it&#8217;s aimed at achieving those. It doesn&#8217;t matter whether the first week is peppered with difficult stages or whether that&#8217;s in the second week, he needs to arrive at the Tour in top condition, and so that is really what our focus is on.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>CN: When it comes to general preparation of the UAE athletes and Tadej in particular, have you looked at other sports outside cycling a lot, a little or just a bit, as a reference point? Are there any specific ones that you have found helpful?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>JS: <\/strong>I wouldn&#8217;t say so. We look at all the science and the evolution of sports performance across the board. So sometimes there are, you know, little anecdotes that come through from running, from other sports that we then look into, and sometimes innovation happens in other sports, and then we will assess that. And then over time it will become part of our practice.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">But it&#8217;s not that often that you see other sports demonstrating new techniques. I would say the ones that we have gained insights from would be, for instance, running and triathlon.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>CN: Could you give me an example?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>JS:<\/strong> Sure. In running and in triathlon, we&#8217;ve increasingly used heat training in previous years, [also] the aerodynamic side. Triathlon is unlimited. There are no restrictions on the kinds of aerodynamic changes that you can adopt on the bike and in terms of the rider&#8217;s position, and so triathlon often innovates in that space.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">We&#8217;re then constrained by the UCI regulations. So we have to look at changes that are adopted in triathlon and see whether or not a modification of those can be somehow implemented within the UCI&#8217;s rules. So that&#8217;s an example.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Aero gains is a huge part of triathlon, too, and then in the training side of things, as I said, heat training is an example that was adopted across multiple different endurance sports and then running in particular. Then it was adopted by cycling and triathlon and all endurance disciplines collectively.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-ac0869aa-c45a-47fd-b979-52e0afba788f\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ReT5G2r5Y3FvGG77fKWDcj-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ReT5G2r5Y3FvGG77fKWDcj-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ReT5G2r5Y3FvGG77fKWDcj-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ReT5G2r5Y3FvGG77fKWDcj-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ReT5G2r5Y3FvGG77fKWDcj-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ReT5G2r5Y3FvGG77fKWDcj-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Getting dialled aerodynamically is more and more important <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-a6f15083-61b0-4460-ae70-fabdee26545e\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>CN: Have you continued working on his sprints in high mountains because this is something you mentioned in previous interviews as being very important?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>JS: <\/strong>It&#8217;s part of our altitude training protocol for different reasons. Doing sprints at altitude reverses some of the negative effects of being at altitude, which is that blood vessels constrict and therefore limit your ability to do high-intensity accelerations at altitude.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">I know that other teams, Jumbo as they were back then [Visma-Lease a Bike], were doing that prior to us, and so sometimes we look at some of the things that other teams are doing while we&#8217;re studying the literature and we met with the scientists in that space to optimise our protocol and implementation of that protocol.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">So that&#8217;s something that we definitely do, and continue to do, and it&#8217;s certainly beneficial.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>CN: What about his low-cadence torque training, which has also been mentioned as significant?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>JS: <\/strong>That&#8217;s something that&#8217;s continued too, and I think some of his improvements in the last seasons are still attributable to improvements in torque. In cycling we talk about mean maximum power, which is the mean value for a particular duration that you can produce a power output and we have mean maximal torque as well.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">So we know that an athlete can sustain a maximal torque for say five minutes or 10 minutes or 15 minutes and it declines with increasing duration. And Tadej&#8217;s mean maximum torque values have continued to increase over the last three years that we&#8217;ve been focused on that kind of work.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">And because torque is a component of power that is possibly responsible for some of the gains that we&#8217;ve made, we can infer that there are continued improvements in that area as well.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-b5adfbeb-721f-48f5-ae7a-793970fe811b\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ch3Q4QAhUkddsZzu3siGVF-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ch3Q4QAhUkddsZzu3siGVF-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ch3Q4QAhUkddsZzu3siGVF-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ch3Q4QAhUkddsZzu3siGVF-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ch3Q4QAhUkddsZzu3siGVF-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ch3Q4QAhUkddsZzu3siGVF-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-b414de9c-0e8c-45d7-a58f-2121b933ed05\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>CN: When it comes to Poga\u010dar&#8217;s use of standing and seated accelerations, I couldn&#8217;t help noticing during Li\u00e8ge that as far as I could see from the TV cameras, he used a very strong standing acceleration on the C\u00f4te de la Redoute and then a seated one on the Roche-aux-Faucons to finally &#8216;get rid of&#8217; <\/strong><strong>Paul Seixas<\/strong><strong>. Was that a planned strategy or was that switching around simply because Tadej felt like it?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>JS:<\/strong> That was his own decision, that was purely his own decision to attack in that way.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Part of that race he was assessing where he could potentially uncover a weakness in Seixas&#8217; ability and it seemed that the out-of-the-saddle, very high intensity attacks were not having the desired effect of shaking him loose. So then he decided to do a very high-intensity effort but sustained for a longer duration, and that&#8217;s something that you can only do in the saddle and that then had the desired effect of creating the gap.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">So I think it was just a matter of testing out the different aspects of where he could exploit a weakness. And eventually he found it.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>Part 2 of this interview, including more information on Poga\u010dar&#8217;s capacities as a racer and rider, will be published next week.<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr id=\"elk-2cfe29ff-a258-483c-bb5a-bdaaa000fadb\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\n<p id=\"elk-311d8f0d-4375-40ae-b72d-6548b94185a5\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><em><strong>The world\u2019s biggest bike race deserves world-class coverage. Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to our unrivalled reporting of the 2026 Tour de France. From Barcelona through to Paris, our experienced team will bring you breaking news, expert insight, and in-depth coverage from every stage as the battle for the yellow jersey plays out. Plus, access the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on the go! <\/strong><\/em><u><em><strong>Find out more.<\/strong><\/em><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block mb-5\" id=\"articleTag\" data-component-name=\"PostArticleLinks\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"post-article-links\">\n<div class=\"border-b border-b-black border-solid py-2.5 text-black font-bold uppercase\">TOPICS<\/div>\n<nav class=\"py-2.5 flex gap-2.5 flex-wrap\" data-analytics-id=\"article-tag\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-tag\">\n<p>Road<\/p>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"slice-container-authorBio-s8zHRb72MuhZmRBmgesHQX\" class=\"slice-container slice-author-bio authorBio-s8zHRb72MuhZmRBmgesHQX slice-container-authorBio\">\n<div class=\"author author__default-layout author--separator author--collapsible\" data-hydrate=\"true\">\n<div class=\"author__header\">\n<div class=\"author__avatar-block\">\n<figure class=\"image-wrapped__wrapper\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"false\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__widthsetter\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__aspect-padding\">\n<div><source class=\"author__avatar image-wrapped__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ-140-80.jpg.webp 140w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ.jpg\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ.jpg\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__heading\">\n<div class=\"author__name\">Alasdair Fotheringham<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__social\">\n<nav class=\"button-social-group author__social-buttons\" aria-labelledby=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">\n<div id=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">Social Links Navigation<\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__bio-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"author__biography\">\n<p>Alasdair Fotheringham has been reporting on cycling since 1991. He has covered every Tour de France since 1992 bar one, as well as numerous other bike races of all shapes and sizes, ranging from the Olympic Games in 2008 to the now sadly defunct Subida a Urkiola hill climb in Spain. As well as working for <em>Cyclingnews<\/em>, he has also written for <em>The Independent<\/em>,\u00a0 <em>The Guardian<\/em>,\u00a0 <em>ProCycling<\/em>, <em>The Express<\/em> and <em>Reuters<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"relative max-w-[1070px] viafoura-twig-component mt-6 mx-4 lg:mx-0\" data-component-name=\"Viafoura:Comments\" data-nosnippet data-community-guidelines-text=\"&lt;p class=&apos;vfcustom-community-guidelines&apos;&gt;Please follow our &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/about\/#section-community-guidelines&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;community guidelines&lt;\/a&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;\" data-join-the-conversation-text=\"Join the Conversation\">\n<div class=\"absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-full flex items-center justify-center z-50 bg-white\/90 border-1 rounded-b-[var(--comment-widget-border-radius,0)]\">\n<div class=\"p-2 text-center\">\n<p class=\"mb-3 text-lg!\">You must confirm your public display name before commenting<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-3 text-sm!\">Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"mx-2 my-5 sm:mx-0\">\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-adviser:hybrid\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Read more<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7gnF2TkcErBLX48kHnJeQ-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7gnF2TkcErBLX48kHnJeQ-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7gnF2TkcErBLX48kHnJeQ-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7gnF2TkcErBLX48kHnJeQ-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7gnF2TkcErBLX48kHnJeQ-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;We shouldn&#8217;t get too hung up on a kilo or two in a cyclist&#8217; \u2013 No weight concerns for Tadej Poga\u010dar ahead of Tour de France, says UAE&#8217;s Matxin<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rAsAd4XPiLEaLrbBawWTL3-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rAsAd4XPiLEaLrbBawWTL3-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rAsAd4XPiLEaLrbBawWTL3-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rAsAd4XPiLEaLrbBawWTL3-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rAsAd4XPiLEaLrbBawWTL3-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">By winning the Giro d&#8217;Italia, Jonas Vingegaard has had his strongest Tour de France preparation yet \u2013 but we still have no idea how he&#8217;ll compare with Tadej Poga\u010dar<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KcF9u9WccDE3tHDZkgdCiC-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KcF9u9WccDE3tHDZkgdCiC-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KcF9u9WccDE3tHDZkgdCiC-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KcF9u9WccDE3tHDZkgdCiC-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KcF9u9WccDE3tHDZkgdCiC-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Tadej watched the Giro and saw how good Jonas Vingegaard was&#8217; &#8211; UAE Team Emirates-XRG &#8216;ready to race hard&#8217; in Tour de France<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Jonas Vingegaard will try, but in reality, no one is likely to upset the Tadej Poga\u010dar show at the Tour de France \u2013 Philippa York analysis<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/WHEfA8PfrwjRikdcTccTK-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/WHEfA8PfrwjRikdcTccTK-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/WHEfA8PfrwjRikdcTccTK-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/WHEfA8PfrwjRikdcTccTK-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/WHEfA8PfrwjRikdcTccTK-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Who will win the Tour de France 2026? Our definitive ranking of the favourites for the yellow jersey<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LpQsdN53Tmuw3mQKgs4r5n-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LpQsdN53Tmuw3mQKgs4r5n-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LpQsdN53Tmuw3mQKgs4r5n-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LpQsdN53Tmuw3mQKgs4r5n-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LpQsdN53Tmuw3mQKgs4r5n-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;He&#8217;s in Tour de France mode&#8217; &#8211; Tadej Poga\u010dar at altitude training camp in Sierra Nevada<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-category\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Teams &amp; Riders<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/emy9d3Pz2Bn5opRnPDhAhY-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/emy9d3Pz2Bn5opRnPDhAhY-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/emy9d3Pz2Bn5opRnPDhAhY-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/emy9d3Pz2Bn5opRnPDhAhY-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/emy9d3Pz2Bn5opRnPDhAhY-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe announce full Tour de France team and &#8216;dual leadership approach&#8217; around Remco Evenepoel and Florian Lipowitz<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5hyiDva6XRbQL2pi4MTQUd-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5hyiDva6XRbQL2pi4MTQUd-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5hyiDva6XRbQL2pi4MTQUd-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5hyiDva6XRbQL2pi4MTQUd-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5hyiDva6XRbQL2pi4MTQUd-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Jayco AlUla hedge Tour de France stage hunting bets with options from Ben O&#8217;Connor to Michael Matthews and Pascal Ackermann<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bXQT53HpJF6jJKzoLSaAXU-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bXQT53HpJF6jJKzoLSaAXU-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bXQT53HpJF6jJKzoLSaAXU-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bXQT53HpJF6jJKzoLSaAXU-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bXQT53HpJF6jJKzoLSaAXU-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Another Tour de France rider at risk? Visma-Lease a Bike say Edoardo Affini &#8216;will be monitored&#8217; after high-speed crash at Italian Road Championships<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Tour de France team-by-team guide \u2013 Line-up, leaders and ambitions for every squad on the start list<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NQu72imttAwpz7zZTTFxcN-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NQu72imttAwpz7zZTTFxcN-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NQu72imttAwpz7zZTTFxcN-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NQu72imttAwpz7zZTTFxcN-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NQu72imttAwpz7zZTTFxcN-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Full of confidence and with a real sense of anticipation&#8217; \u2013 Can Biniam Girmay recapture his 2024 Tour de France form with this NSN lead-out?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6QKDUQdtVSkXvEW6GNYQHd-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6QKDUQdtVSkXvEW6GNYQHd-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6QKDUQdtVSkXvEW6GNYQHd-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6QKDUQdtVSkXvEW6GNYQHd-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6QKDUQdtVSkXvEW6GNYQHd-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">With no Tour de France, Primo\u017e Rogli\u010d will compete at Slovenian National Championships for first time since 2020 as Tadej Poga\u010dar skips both races<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-articletype\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Features<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gfAaSpgaBD5eiD77JQmbFF-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gfAaSpgaBD5eiD77JQmbFF-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gfAaSpgaBD5eiD77JQmbFF-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gfAaSpgaBD5eiD77JQmbFF-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gfAaSpgaBD5eiD77JQmbFF-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Safety<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">The High Temperature Protocol, switching dates, racing in the morning \u2013 What could the future of the Tour de France look like as summer temperatures continue to rise?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xYehNdGJyBUwNetTFTfRVL-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Tour de France team-by-team guide \u2013 Line-up, leaders and ambitions for every squad on the start list<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/eJrCHdKTBj9hHGTR8wCCMa-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/eJrCHdKTBj9hHGTR8wCCMa-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/eJrCHdKTBj9hHGTR8wCCMa-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/eJrCHdKTBj9hHGTR8wCCMa-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/eJrCHdKTBj9hHGTR8wCCMa-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;It&#8217;s crazy how much can change in a year&#8217; \u2013 Lauren Dickson&#8217;s remarkable rise from cycling newbie to smashing Grand Tours with Demi Vollering<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Jonas Vingegaard will try, but in reality, no one is likely to upset the Tadej Poga\u010dar show at the Tour de France \u2013 Philippa York analysis<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/w2yKVk6YqjVoyao7mRTdRT-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/w2yKVk6YqjVoyao7mRTdRT-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/w2yKVk6YqjVoyao7mRTdRT-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/w2yKVk6YqjVoyao7mRTdRT-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/w2yKVk6YqjVoyao7mRTdRT-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Cycling Kit &amp; Accessories<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">New Prologo MIG AIR CPC and MIG CPC gloves ensure aerodynamics, fit and comfort<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F9aNQKLW9rmhuXWVgxXCsH-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F9aNQKLW9rmhuXWVgxXCsH-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F9aNQKLW9rmhuXWVgxXCsH-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F9aNQKLW9rmhuXWVgxXCsH-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F9aNQKLW9rmhuXWVgxXCsH-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Altitude top-ups, recons, and down time \u2013 What are the yellow jersey hopefuls up to ahead of the Tour de France?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"widgetArea17\" class=\"widget-area md:basis-1\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-1-3 page-widget-area-17\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"dynamic\" id=\"popular-data\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-dynamic widget-popular-data widget-dynamic-popular-data widget-dynamic-fter-popular-box\">\n<div class=\"wdn-fte-pb pos-relative space-t20\n\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-popularBox\" class=\"slice-container popular-box-slice popularBox slice-container-popularBox\">\n<section data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"popular-box\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label__tab popular-box__label__tab--active\" role=\"heading\">LATEST ARTICLES<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ol class=\"popular-box__articles-list popular-box__articles-list--active\">\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__image-wrapper\">\n<div><source class=\"popular-box__article-list__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-320-80.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-640-80.jpg.webp 640w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-720-80.jpg.webp 720w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-1280-80.jpg.webp 1280w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR.jpg\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR.jpg\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">1<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">&#8216;Tadej keeps on surprising us&#8217; \u2013 The inside view on how UAE Team Emirates-XRG have constructed Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s assault on a fifth Tour de France<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">2<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">Still-bandaged Paul Seixas finally back training on the road in Alps ahead of Tour de France debut<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">3<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">Franziska Koch scores first German time trial title after double road race victories<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">4<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">Former world champion Lizzie Deignan takes up sports director role with British Cycling ahead of LA Olympics<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">5<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">Eurobike 2026: Five new bikes that caught my eye<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"news-article\">\n<header data-component-name=\"Article:Hero\">\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\nPro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTeams &amp; Riders\n<\/li>\n<li>\nUAE Team Emirates-XRG\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTadej Pogacar\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h1>&#8216;Tadej keeps on surprising us&#8217; \u2013 The inside view on how UAE Team Emirates-XRG have constructed Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s assault on a fifth Tour de France<\/h1>\n<div class=\"byline-social\">\n<div class=\"byline font-ui-heading text-[12px]\">\nFeatures<\/p>\n<div><span><br \/>\nBy<br \/>\nAlasdair Fotheringham <\/span><span><br \/>\npublished<br \/>\n<time data-component-name=\"UI:DateTime\" datetime=\"2026-06-26T13:18:40Z\" class=\"relative-date\"><br \/>\n26 June 2026<br \/>\n<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"strapline\">From mental rest and a meticulously planned countdown to a lot of torque work and sprint training, the jigsaw is a supremely complicated one, UAE&#8217;s Head of Performance explains<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"text-gray-700 mx-auto mb-4 flex items-center justify-start mx-0 my-5 p-0\" id=\"affiliate-disclaimer\" data-component-name=\"AffiliateDisclaimer\" data-hawk-message=\"Affiliate disclaimer removed because hawk deemed there are no affiliate links on this page\">\n<p class=\"text-[var(--affiliate-disclaimer--text-color,inherit))] mb-2 text-[length:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--font-size,0.75rem)] leading-[18px] md:text-[13px] [&amp;&gt;a]:text-inherit [&amp;&gt;a]:underline\">\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here\u2019s how it works.\n<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"text-copy bodyCopy auto paywall-locker\">\n<div data-analytics-id=\"utility-bar\" id=\"utility-bar\" class=\"font-ui-heading flex justify-between items-center py-2 border-t border-b border-gray-300 border-solid mb-5 mx-auto\" data-component-name=\"UtilityBar\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"utility-bar\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div data-component-name=\"Social:Dropdown\" role=\"menu\" id=\"utilitybar__dropdown--share\" aria-labelledby=\"utilitybar__button--share\" class=\"absolute left-0 top-full w-44 bg-white rounded-md shadow-md border border-neutral-200 z-[9996] list-none m-0 py-2 px-3 border-solid\">\n<ul class=\"m-0!\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Facebook<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>X<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Pinterest<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Email<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-share-this-article\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nShare this article\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\"><span class=\"ml-1 inline-flex h-5 px-2 shrink-0 items-center justify-center self-center overflow-hidden whitespace-nowrap rounded-[10px] bg-primary-500 text-[11px] leading-none font-ui-heading font-semibold text-white\">0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-join-the-conversation\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nJoin the conversation\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p>Follow us<\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-add-us-as-a-preferred-source-on-google\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nAdd us as a preferred source on Google\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-subscribe-to-our-newsletter\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-73631df7-ade3-4675-a399-0e6dd9d606f6\">Most of the time when we see Tadej Poga\u010dar in a bike race, he&#8217;s already at the peak of his powers. The only questions that need to be asked are not so much whether he will win, but how and where.<\/p>\n<p>The Tour de France is the hardest of all those racing challenges, though, and taking a fifth one this year would further cement the Slovenian star&#8217;s place amongst the very greatest of the sport. However, while he is the maximum favourite for the final victory, it&#8217;s by no means a given that he&#8217;ll do it.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-73631df7-ade3-4675-a399-0e6dd9d606f6-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">All of which makes the process by which Poga\u010dar has reached a point where he can bid for the Tour for a seventh year running (and with podium finishes on all of them so far) even more relevant.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-6 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-[10px] lg:my-8\" data-component-name=\"JwPlayer:Carousel\" data-jwp-carousel data-jwp-carousel-payload=\"{&quot;ids&quot;:{&quot;playerID&quot;:&quot;jYDCcabO&quot;,&quot;searchPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;divID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;fallbackPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;fallbackDivID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;key&quot;:&quot;X9\/mXVGac0NphghLH9hZaqWA5d3dhAM\/Ih07grnEyMLjuO2E&quot;,&quot;tintLogo&quot;:true,&quot;useSearchPlaylist&quot;:false,&quot;enabled&quot;:true},&quot;signPostingEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;signPostingLinkEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;waitForAdLoad&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnDesktop&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnMobile&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnTablet&quot;:false}\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-nowrap items-center justify-between gap-3 bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-header>\n<div class=\"flex min-w-0 shrink items-center\"><span class=\"inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-sm font-article-heading capitalize leading-5 text-white whitespace-nowrap\"><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-desktop\">Latest Videos From<\/span><span class=\"jwp-carousel-brand inline-flex items-center\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/gmvwmhupgi1715762145.svg\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] block h-[18px] w-auto shrink-0 brightness-0 invert\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"aspect-video w-full min-h-[200px] lg:min-h-[330px] relative overflow-hidden bg-black\" data-jwp-carousel-container>\n<div class=\"absolute inset-0 size-full items-center justify-center bg-white\" data-jwp-carousel-fallback><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/gmvwmhupgi1715762145.svg\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rounded-[var(--image--border-radius,0)] max-h-12 w-auto\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"min-h-[44px] bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting><a class=\"invisible block truncate text-sm font-bold leading-5 text-white underline decoration-solid underline-offset-2\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting-link href target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-jwp-carousel-signposting-title>Watch full video here: <\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">In the first of a two-part series, <em>Cyclingnews<\/em> talks to UAE Team Emirates-XRG Head of Performance Jeroen Swart about Poga\u010dar and what he believes he can achieve in the Tour de France this year, including why he thinks the four-times winner can still get even better.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"q-a-with-uae-team-emirates-xrg-s-head-of-performance-3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Q&amp;A with UAE Team Emirates-XRG&#8217;s Head of Performance<\/h2>\n<p id=\"elk-bed064c4-8629-4428-af5d-c2fd63ab0e70\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>Cyclingnews (CN): At the start of this season, while you pointed out that two years ago [from the start of 2024 onwards], Poga\u010dar had mproved dramatically, you said, and I&#8217;m quoting you textually &#8220;I think the changes now will be much smaller. It&#8217;s more about being able to sustain that level.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7gnF2TkcErBLX48kHnJeQ-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7gnF2TkcErBLX48kHnJeQ-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;We shouldn&#8217;t get too hung up on a kilo or two in a cyclist&#8217; \u2013 No weight concerns for Tadej Poga\u010dar ahead of Tour de France, says UAE&#8217;s Matxin<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rAsAd4XPiLEaLrbBawWTL3-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rAsAd4XPiLEaLrbBawWTL3-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">By winning the Giro d&#8217;Italia, Jonas Vingegaard has had his strongest Tour de France preparation yet \u2013 but we still have no idea how he&#8217;ll compare with Tadej Poga\u010dar<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KcF9u9WccDE3tHDZkgdCiC-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KcF9u9WccDE3tHDZkgdCiC-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;Tadej watched the Giro and saw how good Jonas Vingegaard was&#8217; &#8211; UAE Team Emirates-XRG &#8216;ready to race hard&#8217; in Tour de France<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>Do you stand by that statement now, having seen what he did in the spring and where he&#8217;s at?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>Jeroen Swart (JS): <\/strong>I do. If we look at Tadej&#8217;s numbers, he definitely is not improving by the same margins as he did before. I have been a little surprised in that we&#8217;ve been able to still eke out some improvement. If you had asked me two years ago, I would have suspected that we would have hit a plateau and that we would have been then focused on maintaining that plateau and to our surprise, he has still improved, and that has helped us as well in terms of his performance on the Classics side as well. That was also aimed at specifically that he&#8217;d gained a few kilos of extra muscle that helped with the explosiveness required for the Classics, so there was a focused training and specific adaptation for that.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-s8zHRb72MuhZmRBmgesHQX\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-s8zHRb72MuhZmRBmgesHQX slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__header\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<footer class=\"newsletter-form__footer \">By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">But his overall performance, if we look across races, has increased very marginally, and we were nevertheless surprised to still see an improvement, which is obviously welcome. Every little bit helps.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fancy-box kiosq-b\" id=\"elk-84c29913-a858-41ab-93c8-ec18dbb2c378\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"fancy_box-title\">More on Tour de France<\/div>\n<div class=\"fancy_box_body\">\n<ul>\n<li>Everything you need to know about the Tour de France<\/li>\n<li>2026 Tour de France route<\/li>\n<li>Tour de France team-by-team guide<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-a935229c-fc49-4c10-b447-1b9836642b84\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>CN: So is it fair to say that the best Tadej could be yet to come?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>JS:<\/strong> That would be so difficult to predict. I would settle for the same Tadej we&#8217;ve had in previous Tours, that would be great. If he manages to improve further, that would certainly be welcome. I would hesitate to think that it&#8217;s still possible, but let&#8217;s wait and see.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vqqtZmiJMoZQD2csCZrp5V-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Jonas Vingegaard will try, but in reality, no one is likely to upset the Tadej Poga\u010dar show at the Tour de France \u2013 Philippa York analysis<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/WHEfA8PfrwjRikdcTccTK-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/WHEfA8PfrwjRikdcTccTK-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Who will win the Tour de France 2026? Our definitive ranking of the favourites for the yellow jersey<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LpQsdN53Tmuw3mQKgs4r5n-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LpQsdN53Tmuw3mQKgs4r5n-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;He&#8217;s in Tour de France mode&#8217; &#8211; Tadej Poga\u010dar at altitude training camp in Sierra Nevada<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>CN: But you&#8217;re not ruling it out.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>JS: <\/strong>I&#8217;m not ruling anything out. He keeps surprising us and with his level, every year has been a surprise in terms of his ability to continue to improve a little bit here and there. So I wouldn&#8217;t rule it out, but I think the chances are increasingly slimmer each season that he can take another step.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-e1e4ef37-f31d-4013-9308-6842b9080609\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5fWTh76BC8btTP6EC4hb5a-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5fWTh76BC8btTP6EC4hb5a-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5fWTh76BC8btTP6EC4hb5a-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5fWTh76BC8btTP6EC4hb5a-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5fWTh76BC8btTP6EC4hb5a-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5fWTh76BC8btTP6EC4hb5a-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Poga\u010dar is aiming to win a fifth Tour this July <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-9acdc0d6-79a9-471f-b718-90e6d64fb3d8\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>CN: Miguel Indurain was the last male rider to win five Tours, and he won his first when he was 27, which is the same year that Poga\u010dar could win his fifth this July.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>So given the five-year difference in ages to possibly reach that particular landmark, is it fair to say what really matters more now at this point in Tadej career is ensuring his mental resilience remains in place, because you&#8217;ve got the physical side of things more or less dialled?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>JS:<\/strong> I think that point about mental resilience isn&#8217;t just about Tadej, it&#8217;s across the board, in all sports. Sports psychology and mental coaching have become increasingly recognised as a very important part of sports performance, and whether it&#8217;s in professional golfing or professional cycling, it&#8217;s equally as important.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">So that means that there&#8217;s a greater structure and focus than ever before on mental health, performance-related optimisation from a mental perspective. And we&#8217;ve taken specific steps to do that, and to look after that.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The racing has definitely become mentally more challenging, too. It is more full on from the start, and it doesn&#8217;t really let up, you know: There are the odd races or stages where there&#8217;s a hiatus in the sort of attacks and the pace and the peloton can relax a little, but that has become almost the exception and no longer the rule. So every race is mentally very taxing and that can be cumulative.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">I also think there&#8217;s a greater mental stress because of the speeds, the aggression in the racing &#8211; and our riders talk about this &#8211; the risks being taken across the peloton, including by our riders as well, because everybody seems to be pushing the envelope.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Descents have become a step to the next attack, they&#8217;ve become the area where attacks often happen, where the pressure is exerted. So all round, the mental stress of racing has definitely increased substantially.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-aa5adfe6-614c-4e84-a995-ece99093685a\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ge23rcNdL3qvtM54kETsWT-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ge23rcNdL3qvtM54kETsWT-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ge23rcNdL3qvtM54kETsWT-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ge23rcNdL3qvtM54kETsWT-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ge23rcNdL3qvtM54kETsWT-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ge23rcNdL3qvtM54kETsWT-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-5b3c771e-7e36-42a1-a30b-ad7b70d64856\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">At the same time, the younger peloton has emerged as a result of riders developing physically much earlier, particularly in their late teens and early twenties, a time when many of them are developing as individuals and their personality is not even fully formed. The prefrontal cortex is still developing, and you&#8217;re putting these athletes into the most difficult circumstances mentally while they&#8217;re still developing emotionally and neurologically.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The reason why you&#8217;ve asked the question is because it&#8217;s obviously a factor these days and we recognise that and so it&#8217;s something that you have to pay attention to and look after them.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The question is often asked, too, &#8216;When will Tadej stop racing?&#8217; and it will be earlier than other athletes have traditionally done in the past. Athletes used to ride into their mid-30s, sometimes in the case of Alejandro Valverde and others into their 40s.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">I think it&#8217;s unlikely that we&#8217;ll see that. I think we&#8217;ll see earlier retirements, and then there&#8217;s also the aspect of motivation for us with Tadej. We&#8217;ve spoken about it quite regularly, and it&#8217;s important for him to stay motivated and enjoy the sport because as soon as it becomes a drag, it becomes harder to have the level of commitment that you have to have to achieve the heights that he is achieving.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>CN: So does that added mental stress for everybody, not just Tadej, but obviously including him, affect the way you&#8217;ve approached the assault on the fifth Tour win? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>JS: <\/strong>Well, it&#8217;s not just around the Tour, it&#8217;s around the entire season and actually with the whole team. So one of the things that we did do in recent years is that, and I&#8217;m talking from a team-wide basis, was introduce our Gen Z team into 1.1, 2.1 races, where we are able to substitute in Gen Z riders and allow our WorldTour riders to take more time out, because we do know and recognise that they require periods of recovery and a large part of that is mental. So we build that into each rider&#8217;s calendar and [UAE sports manager] Joxean Fern\u00e1ndez Matxin does an excellent job of that.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">He has found an absolutely phenomenal balance in terms of bringing riders both opportunities but also the periods of recovery that they need and so every rider has a break in the season where they&#8217;re able to just go home where they reset mentally and physically, and that helps in terms of then returning with increased mental vigour and focus.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">In Tadej&#8217;s case specifically, it&#8217;s the same thing but also focused around maintaining his motivation while also not overloading him in terms of the racing calendar, and so you&#8217;ll see his racing calendar is very much focused around his ambitions and goals, and further to that, it&#8217;s not peppered with races that aren&#8217;t meaningful. So it&#8217;s a very carefully constructed calendar that ensures that he is able to tackle the goals that he wants to tackle while also being prepared physically and mentally for the goals coming up.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-265864ea-6e00-41fd-a481-e11f09b88d9c\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/N46yNzMGxXeg25MbxhgryL-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/N46yNzMGxXeg25MbxhgryL-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/N46yNzMGxXeg25MbxhgryL-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/N46yNzMGxXeg25MbxhgryL-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/N46yNzMGxXeg25MbxhgryL-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/N46yNzMGxXeg25MbxhgryL-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Mental stress is an important factor to manage <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-27fbdef0-eee4-4626-b8a1-8e4a15003316\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>CN: This year, it&#8217;s a similar kind of Tour route to 2024, as in we&#8217;ve got a very complicated first week, and then again in the third. How does that change things in terms of the physiological and preparation side? Are you taking a similar approach to 2024, perhaps, when we had the Alps so soon?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>JS: <\/strong>The approach is actually very similar, but I don&#8217;t think the specific parcours of this year&#8217;s Tour is a reason to change how we do things. In the years when he did the Giro, it was obviously different, but in the years that he hasn&#8217;t done the Giro and that&#8217;s the majority of the last few years, the build-up has been very similar to this one: a focus on the Classics, a reset and then a build-up towards the Tour, which requires a different physiological stressor [physical or biological factors that disrupt the body&#8217;s internal balance &#8211; Ed] in terms of the training stimulus. It requires a different set of performance characteristics and so it&#8217;s aimed at achieving those. It doesn&#8217;t matter whether the first week is peppered with difficult stages or whether that&#8217;s in the second week, he needs to arrive at the Tour in top condition, and so that is really what our focus is on.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>CN: When it comes to general preparation of the UAE athletes and Tadej in particular, have you looked at other sports outside cycling a lot, a little or just a bit, as a reference point? Are there any specific ones that you have found helpful?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>JS: <\/strong>I wouldn&#8217;t say so. We look at all the science and the evolution of sports performance across the board. So sometimes there are, you know, little anecdotes that come through from running, from other sports that we then look into, and sometimes innovation happens in other sports, and then we will assess that. And then over time it will become part of our practice.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">But it&#8217;s not that often that you see other sports demonstrating new techniques. I would say the ones that we have gained insights from would be, for instance, running and triathlon.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>CN: Could you give me an example?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>JS:<\/strong> Sure. In running and in triathlon, we&#8217;ve increasingly used heat training in previous years, [also] the aerodynamic side. Triathlon is unlimited. There are no restrictions on the kinds of aerodynamic changes that you can adopt on the bike and in terms of the rider&#8217;s position, and so triathlon often innovates in that space.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">We&#8217;re then constrained by the UCI regulations. So we have to look at changes that are adopted in triathlon and see whether or not a modification of those can be somehow implemented within the UCI&#8217;s rules. So that&#8217;s an example.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Aero gains is a huge part of triathlon, too, and then in the training side of things, as I said, heat training is an example that was adopted across multiple different endurance sports and then running in particular. Then it was adopted by cycling and triathlon and all endurance disciplines collectively.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-ac0869aa-c45a-47fd-b979-52e0afba788f\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ReT5G2r5Y3FvGG77fKWDcj-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ReT5G2r5Y3FvGG77fKWDcj-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ReT5G2r5Y3FvGG77fKWDcj-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ReT5G2r5Y3FvGG77fKWDcj-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ReT5G2r5Y3FvGG77fKWDcj-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ReT5G2r5Y3FvGG77fKWDcj-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Getting dialled aerodynamically is more and more important <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-a6f15083-61b0-4460-ae70-fabdee26545e\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>CN: Have you continued working on his sprints in high mountains because this is something you mentioned in previous interviews as being very important?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>JS: <\/strong>It&#8217;s part of our altitude training protocol for different reasons. Doing sprints at altitude reverses some of the negative effects of being at altitude, which is that blood vessels constrict and therefore limit your ability to do high-intensity accelerations at altitude.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">I know that other teams, Jumbo as they were back then [Visma-Lease a Bike], were doing that prior to us, and so sometimes we look at some of the things that other teams are doing while we&#8217;re studying the literature and we met with the scientists in that space to optimise our protocol and implementation of that protocol.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">So that&#8217;s something that we definitely do, and continue to do, and it&#8217;s certainly beneficial.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>CN: What about his low-cadence torque training, which has also been mentioned as significant?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>JS: <\/strong>That&#8217;s something that&#8217;s continued too, and I think some of his improvements in the last seasons are still attributable to improvements in torque. In cycling we talk about mean maximum power, which is the mean value for a particular duration that you can produce a power output and we have mean maximal torque as well.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">So we know that an athlete can sustain a maximal torque for say five minutes or 10 minutes or 15 minutes and it declines with increasing duration. And Tadej&#8217;s mean maximum torque values have continued to increase over the last three years that we&#8217;ve been focused on that kind of work.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">And because torque is a component of power that is possibly responsible for some of the gains that we&#8217;ve made, we can infer that there are continued improvements in that area as well.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-b5adfbeb-721f-48f5-ae7a-793970fe811b\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ch3Q4QAhUkddsZzu3siGVF-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ch3Q4QAhUkddsZzu3siGVF-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ch3Q4QAhUkddsZzu3siGVF-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ch3Q4QAhUkddsZzu3siGVF-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ch3Q4QAhUkddsZzu3siGVF-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ch3Q4QAhUkddsZzu3siGVF-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-b414de9c-0e8c-45d7-a58f-2121b933ed05\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>CN: When it comes to Poga\u010dar&#8217;s use of standing and seated accelerations, I couldn&#8217;t help noticing during Li\u00e8ge that as far as I could see from the TV cameras, he used a very strong standing acceleration on the C\u00f4te de la Redoute and then a seated one on the Roche-aux-Faucons to finally &#8216;get rid of&#8217; <\/strong><strong>Paul Seixas<\/strong><strong>. Was that a planned strategy or was that switching around simply because Tadej felt like it?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>JS:<\/strong> That was his own decision, that was purely his own decision to attack in that way.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Part of that race he was assessing where he could potentially uncover a weakness in Seixas&#8217; ability and it seemed that the out-of-the-saddle, very high intensity attacks were not having the desired effect of shaking him loose. So then he decided to do a very high-intensity effort but sustained for a longer duration, and that&#8217;s something that you can only do in the saddle and that then had the desired effect of creating the gap.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">So I think it was just a matter of testing out the different aspects of where he could exploit a weakness. And eventually he found it.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>Part 2 of this interview, including more information on Poga\u010dar&#8217;s capacities as a racer and rider, will be published next week.<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr id=\"elk-2cfe29ff-a258-483c-bb5a-bdaaa000fadb\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">\n<p id=\"elk-311d8f0d-4375-40ae-b72d-6548b94185a5\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><em><strong>The world\u2019s biggest bike race deserves world-class coverage. Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to our unrivalled reporting of the 2026 Tour de France. From Barcelona through to Paris, our experienced team will bring you breaking news, expert insight, and in-depth coverage from every stage as the battle for the yellow jersey plays out. Plus, access the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on the go! <\/strong><\/em><u><em><strong>Find out more.<\/strong><\/em><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/teams-riders\/tadej-keeps-on-surprising-us-the-inside-view-on-how-uae-team-emirates-xrg-have-constructed-tadej-pogacars-assault-on-a-fifth-tour-de-france\/&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-2560-80.jpg&#8221;] 1 Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s final Tour de France altitude camp on hold as family comes first 2 &#8216;I\u2019d say I\u2019m stronger&#8217; \u2013 Tadej Poga\u010dar reveals test results after completing Tour de France tune-up with Tour de Suisse domination 3 Who will win the Tour de France 2026? Our definitive ranking of the favourites [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,68],"class_list":["post-2012587","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-cyclingnews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2012587","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2012587"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2012587\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2012587"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2012587"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2012587"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}