Tadej Pogačar was feeling very bad during the Tour: Wellens revealed it — “He went to the hospital to undergo some tests…”

Attacks, victories, and spectacle — that’s what Tadej Pogačar’s Tour de France looked like up until the second week. Then came only control, almost boredom for the spectators, and no attacks or wins for the Slovenian, not even in Paris, where he still chose to put on a show. Why? Tim Wellens explained it in recent days.

The world champion’s trusted teammate revealed to L’Équipe a significant behind-the-scenes detail: Pogačar was unwell — very unwell. There was even concern that he might not make it to Paris, and the pain in his knee was so severe that he had to go to the hospital for tests. A situation no one talked about during the Tour because UAE managed to keep everything hidden.

This account explains why Pogačar was more cautious and less joyful in the final week, and it theoretically changes many of the conclusions drawn about his future in cycling based on that third week, where he appeared bored. These are the words of Tim Wellens:

“During the stage to Valence, he told me: ‘Tim, we have a problem, my knee hurts a lot.’ He was in so much pain that he got out of the car to be examined by the doctor. After the stage he went to the hospital for tests. They found inflammation or something like that, but no one really knew what it was.

He was really suffering, and we weren’t sure he would make it to the finish. We even thought he might abandon. You could tell that his body was not right: he was swollen, he had gained weight. Seeing him arrive in 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.”

Article: “Tadej Pogačar was feeling very bad during the Tour: Wellens revealed it — ‘He went to the hospital to undergo some tests…’” written by @strongmoderncycling.

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