Tim Wellens reveals seriousness of Pogacar’s Tour injury

After the final criterium in Singapore and before heading off on holiday, the 34-year-old reflected to L'Equipe on a year that nearly unravelled for Tadej Pogačar. “On the stage to Valence [Stage 17], he told me, ‘Tim, we’ve got a problem, my knee really hurts.’ It was so bad that he went down to the car to see the doctor. 

After the stage, he went to the hospital for tests. They found inflammation or something like that, but nobody knew. I was sure it would leak. He was really suffering, and we weren’t sure he could make it to the finish. We even thought about him abandoning.”

“Wellens still remembers the uncertainty in the team bus. “You could tell his body wasn’t right - he was bloated, he had gained weight,” he says. “Seeing him reach Paris was a huge relief. Everyone wondered why he wasn’t attacking, but now it makes sense. We were worried about him physically, but mentally he stayed strong.”

The Belgian, who has become Pogačar’s road captain and close friend, also spoke about the team’s dominance and the perception that it borders on arrogance. “It’s true there’s confidence. Before the Grand Prix de Montréal, we said: ‘There’s no reason to stress, we’re the best.’ And then we completely dominated the race. I hope other teams don’t see that as arrogance, but I can understand if it’s frustrating.”

Inside the team, that confidence has become a source of motivation. “Before the Italian races at the end of the season, everyone was tired, but I couldn’t wait to race because I knew we were going there with Isaac Del Toro,” Wellens says. “It was almost certain he would win every time. It was great to be part of that energy.”

Wellens describes Del Toro as “very smart and mature,” a rider who reminds him of Pogačar. “It’s like he’s ten years older than he is. Even with his teammates, he always knows what needs to be done. After the Giro, he didn’t win, but he still gave something back to the team. That kind of thing motivates everyone.”

As for Pogačar, Wellens says his professionalism sets him apart. “If I weren’t on his team, maybe I’d get tired of him too. But I see how hard he works. For me, he’s the most professional rider in the team, together with Juan Ayuso. One day we had just returned from Abu Dhabi, everyone was exhausted, but he went out to train in the heat.”

That dedication comes with a price. “He’s become a huge star. If he has to stop for a toilet break during a ride, he hides because people immediately rush to take pictures. You don’t realise it, but he feels that 24 hours a day,” Wellens says. “Sometimes I can see he’s had enough, but he handles it really well. I think Tadej will keep racing for a long time because he truly loves what he does.”

Looking ahead, Wellens is already thinking about the spring. “We’re talking about doing a recon for Paris-Roubaix. I love it when Tadej is with us at a race. When he’s there, everything is better, the atmosphere is more relaxed, we laugh more, and the staff are even more motivated.”

He shrugs off the idea of having fewer personal opportunities when Pogačar races. “That really doesn’t bother me. I have enough chances during the season. Even when Tadej is there, like at Strade Bianche, I’m the last guy to help him. So I finish third.”

For next year, Wellens keeps his ambitions simple. “I’ve realised it’s important to focus on what truly matters. I was happy to win in Mallorca at the start of the year, but no one remembers that. So I prefer to target the Classics and a Grand Tour. Of course, I dream of winning the Tour of Flanders. But honestly, if I could win any Classic, it would already be amazing.”