Pogacar explains Prodhomme stare and 'Pantani' nickname after praising Decathlon rider's outstanding Tour

Asked about the incident on the Val 202 podcast more than a week after the Tour finished, Pogačar played down the idea that there was anything hostile behind the gesture, instead explaining the race situation that led to his stare at Prodhomme on the Col de Sarenne.

The moment came on the penultimate stage to Alpe d’Huez, on a day where Pogačar, already secured in yellow, turned luxury domestique for Isaac del Toro as the Mexican champion looked to hold off Paul Seixas in the battle for third and the white jersey. 

After Pogačar had taken control of the pace on the Col du Galibier and continued driving the group through the descent and valley roads, Prodhomme moved to the front on the Col de Sarenne with Seixas behind him.

Prodhomme upped the pace significantly, opening a gap on his teammate and the rest of the yellow jersey group, not for the first time in the Tour. Pogačar rode up and alongside the Frenchman and looked across at him for a distinct period.

Prodhomme later played down any suggestion that the moment carried any hostility, saying he believed Pogačar was simply surprised by his acceleration.

Pogačar has since explained that his reaction came after he had already spent a long time on the front and had hoped Prodhomme would help share the workload, with Decathlon’s ambitions in mind.

“At that moment, I was already pulling the rope into the barrel. Because the wind was blowing in my face, it wasn’t exactly easy either. Yeah, I tried once or twice to get him to let me have at least one turn. So I could catch my breath a bit and then carry on," Pogačar said on the Val 202 podcast.

"But no, he didn’t give me a single turn. They had another one with them as well, so there were two of them in the Decathlon, who could at least have helped me a bit."

The world champion acknowledged that Prodhomme had no obligation to help, given the French team were trying to topple one of Pogačar’s UAE teammates in Del Toro.

"But I get it, that’s cycling for you. There’s no one there who should have helped me any more. But anyway, because you’re there in the moment, because I’d already been in the Red Zone for a bit, I hit a wall."

Ultimately, Pogačar’s main priority was keeping Del Toro protected on the crucial ascent of the Col de Sarenne.

"I said, ‘OK, I’ll keep up my pace to the top.’ Everything is under control. Isaac’s still in the White Zone. Even if we all get there together. That was my first goal. Then he came along."

Despite the stare, Pogačar was keen to emphasise his respect for Prodhomme’s performance throughout the Tour.

"I mean, I don’t want to say anything against him, because he was outstanding. That Tour was tough, and he was truly outstanding. One of the best riders in the Tour who hasn’t got the recognition he deserves," he said. 

"But what he did for the team was truly phenomenal. And a truly top-class cyclist. I hope the people at Decathlon saw just how much he did for the team; all credit to him."

Pogačar also revealed that Prodhomme’s repeated accelerations on climbs had earned him a nickname inside the UAE team.

"We’d been joking about it in the team before, calling him ‘Pantani’, who always found the strength for the final sprint. He’d always accelerate, stretching out the group for those first 500 metres of the sprint. We didn’t really like that in the team. I caught up with him and looked at him. Take it easy. What are you up to? Take it easy."