Pogacar swaps bike for running shoes on Mont Ventoux to support Urska Zigart

Žigart later shared a video on social media capturing the moment, with Pogačar running alongside her on the climb and shouting encouragement as she made her way towards the summit.

The visit comes during a brief break between Grand Tours for Pogačar. The 27-year-old is set to return to the Vuelta a España later this month, his first appearance since finishing third on his debut in 2019. Victory would complete his collection of Grand Tour titles.

Žigart has had a far more difficult summer. She fractured her jaw in a heavy crash at the Tour de Suisse in June and recovered in time to start the Tour de France Femmes, where stomach problems cost her significant time on stage 3.

Her form has improved as the race has gone on, however, and she eventually produced one of her better performances of the week on Mont Ventoux, finishing 26th on the stage.

Alongside Pogačar, Isaac Del Toro was also in France ahead of stage 8 to support his girlfriend, Romina Hinojosa. Hinojosa is part of a depleted Lotto-Intermarché Ladies squad that lost no fewer than four of its seven riders during the opening seven days.

Del Toro enjoyed a highly successful Tour de France debut, finishing third overall and winning the young rider classification. Earlier this week, the Mexican extended his contract with UAE Team Emirates-XRG until the end of 2031.