Pogacar sends warning to Tour de France rivals after beating last year’s training benchmark

A narrow time trial victory over Mathieu van der Poel provided the latest confirmation of his form at the Tour de Suisse. Just four hundredths of a second separated the pair, but the result strengthened Pogačar’s overall lead and gave him another important test before the start of the Tour.

The most revealing performance, however, may have taken place away from the race.

Speaking to L’Équipe, Pogačar explained that he had returned to a climb in Sierra Nevada where he recorded an exceptional time during last year’s altitude camp.

“I thought, ‘Wow, I will never be able to go faster than that.’ This year, just for fun, I went back at the end of the camp, and in the end I was significantly faster. So yes, from a training perspective, I would say I am stronger.”

His progress in Sierra Nevada appears to have translated immediately into results on the road. After several weeks at altitude, he arrived in Switzerland ready to attack rather than using the race to gradually build his condition.

Pogačar seized control of the general classification with an aggressive long range move on the opening stage. His victory in the time trial was his second success of the week.

The Slovenian called Saturday’s effort “a very good test” and believes the intensity of the Swiss race has provided ideal preparation for July.

“These five days here are intense, fast and hot,” he said. “It is very good preparation for the Tour.”

Those conditions, combined with his immediate impact after returning from altitude, have not gone unnoticed by his main rivals. Visma | Lease a Bike sports director Gaëtan Pons acknowledged that the performances in Switzerland had provided an early indication of the level his team may need to match in July.

“It shows that he is in very good shape,” Pons said to L'Equipe. “It is a good indication for us ahead of the Tour de France.”

Visma still expects Jonas Vingegaard to challenge Pogačar when the two meet at the Tour. Pons pointed to the Dane’s level at the Giro d’Italia as evidence that a close contest remains possible.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG also showed its collective strength during the time trial. Brandon McNulty, Tim Wellens, Nils Politt and Felix Grossschartner all finished inside the top 15 alongside their leader.

Wellens said the team had already seen signs of Pogačar’s condition during the altitude camp.

“With Tadej, you automatically believe in victory. We knew he was going to win a lot here because we had all seen his level at the altitude camp,” the Belgian said.

The performances suggest Pogačar will not need time to find his best form when the Tour begins. In Switzerland, he has attacked from distance, performed in the heat and delivered a winning ride against the clock.

Away from the race, the Slovenian has also been dealing with a far more personal concern this week.

Pogačar’s partner, Urška Žigart, suffered a serious crash during the women’s Tour de Suisse on Wednesday. Žigart fractured her jaw and required hospital treatment, leaving him to balance his racing commitments with concern for her recovery.

“The past two days have been difficult for Urška,” Pogačar said. “I tried to visit her as often as possible in hospital. It is never something you want to see, especially when it happens to the most important person in your life.”

Positive news about Žigart’s condition helped him feel calmer before Saturday’s time trial. “She is doing much better now,” he said. "When I spoke to her this morning and before the start, I felt more relaxed and a little better.”