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Tadej Pogačar doesn’t like slowing down.
UAE Emirates-XRG sport director Joxean Matxín Fernández defined the thriller distress that beset the Slovenian final week as he closed down on his fourth Tour de France title.
“Tadej likes to be competitive. Since we had to defend and wait for attacks, that kind of defense isn’t fun,” Matxin instructed AS. “It’s not fun for the spectator nor for him.”
Matxin explained this week to Spanish every day AS {that a} fast-fatiguing Pogačar was pressured to change to a conservative technique within the Tour’s grueling ultimate week within the Alps.
No dangers have been allowed in opposition to the relentless assaults of Jonas Vingegaard and Visma-Lease a Bike.
Also learn: UAE’s Matxin on how Visma’s Tour de France technique backfired
It was a tactic that re-wrote each line of the Pogačar playbook – and the blame for a perceived “boredom” that was criticized far and vast.
“It’s in our nature to go on the attack. But when you have a four-minute lead in the standings, you also have to be consistent,” Matxin mentioned.
“We’re used to seeing attacks 80km from the finish, 50km from the finish … now anything that involves waiting until the end seems boring. Why? Because these same riders are the ones who have made racing seem like it’s from the start. They’ve accustomed us to it.”
A low level on La Plagne: ‘The lack of competitiveness bored us all’
The hit ‘n’ miss 2025 Tour de France reached a low-point on stage 19 when Pogačar was pressured to regulate the GC group over the drizzled slopes of La Plagne.
It was a practical, guarded model of Pogačar wildly completely different from the one who blew the race aside on Hautacam only one week earlier than.
“The leader isn’t the one who has to attack,” Matxin instructed AS.
“What need did Tadej have to attack so far out in La Plagne like Hautacam?” Matxin continued. “He had four stage wins and the overall. Perhaps the lack of competitiveness bored us all a bit.”
Pogačar’s Alpine malaise bit deep.
The four-time Tour de France champion confirmed this week he’s scrapped his plans to race the Vuelta a España in August to prioritize restoration.
A lighter program via the Canadian classics will permit a much-needed psychological and bodily reset earlier than he jets to Rwanda to defend his world champion’s rainbow jersey in September.
Keeping Pogačar motivated the most important problem for Team UAE
Matxin’s phrases throw a highlight onto the one drawback the UAE Emirates has with Pogačar: How to maintain the fashionable cannibal hungry?
The super-squad’s precedence to ship their long-signed famous person to the Tour de France might finally butt up in opposition to Pogačar’s yearning for the bloodthirsty assaults of the classics.
Indeed, Pogačar is already eager about the pavé.
The 26-year-old was speaking a couple of rematch with Paris-Roubaix solely hours after he lit up the Tour’s mini-classic finale over Montmartre.
Team efficiency chief Jeroen Swart acknowledged to L’Equipe the problem confronted by high brass at Team UAE.
“The question now is how long we can keep him at this level. That’s no longer a question of age, but mainly of motivation,” Swart mentioned.
“With Tadej, the most important thing is to maintain his enthusiasm.”
️ Hey siri, outline: Dominance
Check out all of Tadej Pogacar’s finest bits from this years Tour de France pic.twitter.com/QXykxsZW1H
— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) July 30, 2025
A continually rotating calendar gained’t eternally disguise that Pogačar gained’t need to race the Tour eternally.
Roubaix, San Remo, the Olympic Games, and the Vuelta a España nonetheless must be checked off Pogi’s to-do checklist.
“In some ways, the Tour is a puzzle. You have to be good in time trials, in the mountains, stay healthy, and not crash, but there’s nothing new,” Swart instructed L’Equipe halfway via the Tour.
“That’s why Tadej wanted to ride the Giro, and now that he’s done it, he wants to win Roubaix to keep his motivation up and maintain his level.”
UAE Emirates has the last word luxurious drawback.
No different rider dangers being bored by dominating the Tour de France.
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