Vuelta faces backlash after influencer’s Pogacar comments prompt UAE complaint

Jons, a Spanish content creator with millions of followers across social media, was given access behind the scenes at the Vuelta as part of the race’s efforts to reach a younger audience through its digital channels, including access to riders and areas around the podium after the stage.

However, her approach during the opening stage in Monaco quickly attracted attention for reasons the organisers may not have anticipated.

After Pogačar won the opening time trial and took the first red jersey of the race, Jons attempted to get the Slovenian’s attention while filming content around the podium area.

She repeatedly referred to the five time Tour de France winner as “Pogachitar” and joked: “Take me for a ride too.” At another point, she told viewers: “I don’t know where this guy is in the general classification, but in mine he’s number one.”

The most awkward exchange came when Jons approached Pogačar directly and asked: “Pogachitar, congratulations, why do you hyperventilate every time you see me?”

Pogačar appeared caught off guard and initially responded simply: “What?” He then replied: “I breathe 24/7, thank you,” before moving on with his post race commitments.

The controversy was not limited to her interaction with Pogačar. During the stream, Jons also made suggestive comments about riders’ appearance and tight clothing. “This should be illegal, so much beauty distracts me,” she said, adding: “It’s getting hot seeing all this Lycra, and so tight.”

At another point, she looked towards an area where cyclists were changing and joked: “If they’re changing, even better, that’ll boost the audience.” She later added: “Yes, he’s changing, you can see through the jersey a little and it’s not bad... I like it.”

The footage quickly circulated beyond the Vuelta’s own channels and prompted criticism over both the nature of the content and the access Jons had been given to riders.

The episode prompted a sharp response from Eurosport cycling journalist Laura Meseguer, who used the controversy to raise a wider concern about how women working in professional cycling are perceived.

“The issue is serious,” Meseguer wrote in a statement shared on Instagram.

She argued that women have spent years trying to build a bigger and more respected place for themselves within a traditionally male dominated sport.

“Many women have spent years fighting to expand our space,” she wrote, adding that the aim has been to be treated with respect and given the same opportunities as others.

Meseguer then turned her criticism towards the Vuelta itself, describing the decision to appoint someone with little knowledge of cycling as “a serious mistake” when the resulting content centred on comments she considered sexist.

For Meseguer, the issue went beyond whether Jons’ approach could be considered entertaining or successful on social media.

“It is disrespectful towards us, towards the professionals who are here and above all towards the cyclists,” she wrote.

She concluded her statement by widening the argument beyond women working in the sport.

“Nobody should have to endure being treated as an object, neither women nor men.”

The criticism did not remain limited to journalists and fans.

Catalan broadcaster 3Cat reports, citing MARCA, that UAE Team Emirates-XRG communicated its displeasure over the way Pogačar had been approached. 

The Slovenian is not only the race leader but also the biggest attraction at this year’s Vuelta, making the incident particularly uncomfortable for both the team and organisers.

The Vuelta organisation has since introduced restrictions around Jons ahead of the third stage.