Tadej Pogačar will train with a motorcycle escort: here’s why

A cyclist like Tadej Pogačar is worth millions and millions of euros to his team and sponsors. For this reason, UAE Team Emirates has chosen to “protect” the Slovenian rider after recent incidents that also involved, among others, Vingegaard.

Cyclists are increasingly becoming like stars, and for this reason many fans try to follow them on the roads to train with them or simply to have a quick chat or take a photo. Some do it with the utmost respect, while others do not. Precisely because of the latter, the Emirati team has decided to escort Pogačar with a motorcycle during his training sessions.

These were the words of Joxean Matxin, the team’s Sports Manager, speaking to AS:

“If we train in a group of 20 all together, cars cannot pass, so we split into smaller groups. But when amateurs join in, the bunch becomes too large again — and who decides who can join and who cannot? Who has the authority to ensure that no one feels disrespected? That’s why we decided to put a motorcycle behind Tadej, so that the small group of riders he is in is respected and cars can pass without creating kilometers of traffic.”

Read also: Remco Evenepoel on today’s off day: “Already at the foot of the climb…”