Revelation by Carera: Pogacar’s knee issue at the 2025 Tour was caused by the collision with the Visma team car

The secret kept during the Tour

An unknown detail about the 2025 Tour de France has emerged in the latest episode of the Domestique Hotseat podcast. Alex Carera, agent of Tadej Pogacar, revealed that the knee issue that affected the Slovenian in the final week of the race was not a generic problem, but the direct consequence of a collision with the Visma | Lease a Bike team car that occurred before Stage 18. An incident that Pogacar had downplayed publicly at the time, joking that the rival team “wanted to check his brakes,” but which in reality had far more serious consequences.

One day he wasn’t sure he could start

“When he hit the Visma car, it was really unfortunate because it was such a bizarre situation. After that impact, of course, he was worried because he didn’t feel well,” Carera explained. In the following days, the situation became critical: “One day he wasn’t sure he would be able to start the stage.” The news was deliberately kept confidential to avoid giving tactical information to rival teams. “It was my job to protect this information. If the other teams had known about the injury, tactics could have changed and become more aggressive.” This approach was also confirmed by teammate Tim Wellens, who in the following weeks admitted that at certain moments the team feared Pogacar might withdraw from the race.

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Experience made the difference

Despite having to face the toughest Alpine stages in less-than-ideal physical condition, Pogacar managed to defend the yellow jersey and win his fourth Tour de France. According to Carera, what made the difference was his maturity: “With his experience, he overcame this difficult moment. Without that experience, he might have lost the Tour.” Now, at 27, the Slovenian champion is aiming for a fifth victory in the Grande Boucle, which would put him alongside Anquetil, Merckx, Hinault, and Indurain.

FAQ

How did Pogacar get injured at the 2025 Tour de France?
According to his agent Alex Carera, the knee issue was caused by a collision with a Visma | Lease a Bike team car before Stage 18.

Why didn’t UAE communicate the injury during the Tour?
To avoid rival teams changing tactics and becoming more aggressive, knowing Pogacar was not in optimal condition.

How many Tour de France titles has Pogacar won?
Four. In 2026, he is aiming for a fifth, which would see him equal the record shared by Anquetil, Merckx, Hinault, and Indurain.