Indurain to Pogacar on fifth Tour bid - 'Many have mental problems because of that tension'
Miguel Indurain, Spain’s most decorated cyclist and one of only a handful of riders to have won the Tour de France five times, believes Tadej Pogačar is close to joining that exclusive group. But speaking to EFE, the Navarrese champion warned: “There is still one step left to climb, and it is always a complicated one.”
For Indurain, claiming a fifth Tour is not just about physical strength: “In professional sport you start very young and that takes its toll, especially on a mental level. Psychological fatigue can sometimes weigh more than the physical. Many have mental problems because of that tension.” He reminded that top-level competition demands total commitment, with endless training, extreme care and constant pressure that can “play tricks on you.”
Indurain knows what it takes to win the Tour year after year. Between 1991 and 1995, he dominated the race in a way few have matched, joining the exclusive club of five-time winners alongside Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault. That experience gives weight to his view that Pogačar’s biggest challenge may be mental rather than physical.
From his own career, Indurain feels Pogačar’s future will depend on his motivation: “If he is well and motivated, he will be the one who sets his own limits.” The key, he says, is to keep the passion alive: “In our sport you have to overcome travel, stress, crashes and the tension of competition. Some last longer, others less, but the fundamental thing is to be convinced about what you are doing.”
Asked about Pogačar’s recent comment that he is already “counting the years” until retirement, Indurain admitted he understands: “These are stages we all go through. Finishing earlier or later depends on the desire you have. When you lose the spark, everything becomes more difficult.”
Although cautious, he did not hide that he sees the Slovenian as a strong candidate to equal, and even surpass, the record: “He is very close, and he has everything to achieve it.”
With four Tour titles already secured at the age of 26, Pogačar is entering territory reserved for cycling legends, and Indurain’s words serve as both a warning and an encouragement for the challenges to come.
