'I didn't know Pantani's time' - Pogacar insists Alpe d'Huez record wasn't a goal

Pogačar soloed to victory atop the Alpe after attacking forcefully with a shade over 12km to go. He caught early escapees Richard Carapaz and Lenny Martinez with 2km remaining before dispatching them beneath the flamme rouge.

His time of 35:27 was 1:13 quicker than Pantani’s 1995 mark on the ascent, which had been considered more or less unbeatable until Pogačar entered his imperial phase in recent seasons. When Alpe d’Huez was unveiled as part of the Tour route last October, however, there was immediate speculation that Pogačar would break Pantani’s record. 

In his post-stage press conference atop the Alpe, however, Pogačar insisted that he wasn’t racing with Pantani’s record in mind when he attacked from the foot of the climb. 

“I actually don’t know what was the time of Pantani, to be honest,” Pogačar said. “I’m staying off the internet a lot the last weeks. I don’t think too much into that, but I heard that I broke the record so I’m happy, finally. 

“I just wanted to do a good race and win today, like I said before, for the guys. I don’t know, it’s a like 30-something years old record finally broken, so that’s something good for us.”

Two years ago, Pogačar surpassed Pantani’s 1998 record for Plateau de Beille, while he also set a new record on the Col du Tourmalet en route to victory at Gavarnie-Gèdre on stage 6 of this Tour.

Alpe d’Huez carries a special resonance, as evidenced by the tears of UAE Team Emirates-XRG sports director Matxin Joxean Fernandez and Andrej Hauptman at the finish. Pogačar, however, seemed inured to the emotions conjured up by his latest triumph.

“I don’t know why they get so emotional,” Pogačar said. “I don’t know. I don’t get this emotion. I don’t cry often. I guess it meant a lot. It means a lot to the team because also the way we are riding as a team, I think not just the victory, but the team spirit and all. I think it cannot be better. Even with the rough days of the last few days, the team spirit cannot be better. When we win, it is a reward for all, and then emotions come to surface.”

Pogačar’s fifth stage win of this Tour brings him closer to a fifth overall victory, and he enters the final weekend with a commanding lead of 7:11 over Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe).

He will return to Alpe d’Huez on Saturday, this time via the Col de Sarenne, though he suggested that UAE might prioritise defending Isaac del Toro’s third place over chasing another stage win.