What if I told you the world's most dominant cyclist, a two-time Tour de France champion, was once just a pizza-stick-loving, go-karting teenager? That's the untold story of Tadej Pogačar's rise to cycling superstardom, and it's a journey filled with audacious attacks, unexpected victories, and a whole lot of fun. This inside look draws from Andy McGrath's new book, Tadej Pogačar: Unstoppable, and dives into the foundations of his incredible career.
Let's rewind to the summer of 2018. Pogačar's star was on the rise, culminating in his victory at the prestigious Tour de l'Avenir. But it was his earlier win at the under-23 Peace Race that truly showcased his potential. This wasn't just any race; it was part of the Nations Cup, the premier UCI series for young cyclists. And Pogačar didn't just win, he dominated. On the final day, he launched a daring 35km solo attack over two climbs, battling torrential rain all the way to Jesenik in the Czech Republic. Starting in sixth place overall, he leapfrogged the competition to claim the GC victory. Teams from Switzerland and Great Britain gave chase, but Pogačar's advantage proved insurmountable. Interestingly, even after his later Tour de France triumphs, Pogačar still considered that day at the Peace Race as his fondest memory of aggressive racing.
Following that success, the Tour of Slovenia provided another glimpse into Pogačar's talent and team spirit. His teammate, Ben Hill, managed to snag the race leader's green jersey thanks to some well-timed intermediate sprint points. "I’m leading the tour and there are fellas still not giving me the wheel," Hill recalled, highlighting the lack of respect sometimes shown to lesser-known riders. And this is the part most people miss... Pogačar, however, played a different game. He conserved energy, hanging back in the peloton until the road tilted upwards. "As soon as it started going uphill, he just rode around everyone," Hill said. Pogačar ultimately finished fourth, aided by a solid time trial, while Primož Roglič secured a comfortable overall victory.
But it wasn't just Pogačar's racing prowess that stood out. His easygoing personality and team-first attitude were equally remarkable. "I was tucked up in bed one night and Pogačar bust in at 10:30, handing out pizza sticks," Hill recounted. "He was like, 'This town is a great pizza stick stop, you have to have these pizza sticks.' I was like, 'Mate, we’ve got a race tomorrow, what are you doing?' He was so relaxed about it … life seemed to come pretty easy to him. Win races, have fun, no problems." The mantra that seemed to define his early career.
Even with his own ambitions, Pogačar never hesitated to work for his teammates. Hill remembers a stage at the Giro della Regione Friuli-Venezia Giulia where Pogačar selflessly chased down attacks for him in the final 20km. "He was all-in helping me, leading me out, even though he was the one that was going to win the tour, it had a big hilltop stage. He was really happy to ride for someone else if they had a chance." Unfortunately, Hill crashed in the finale due to a mechanical issue, but Pogačar went on to win the race overall. To celebrate, the team visited a local pizzeria in Ljubljana. "I think they were drinking Long Island iced teas that night," Hill chuckled, revealing a glimpse into Pogačar's more relaxed side. But here's where it gets controversial... Was this just a one-off celebration, or did Pogačar occasionally indulge in youthful fun?
While Pogačar was dedicated to cycling, he didn't completely forgo the typical teenage experiences. He attended some parties and occasionally stopped for a beer with friends. However, he largely remained focused on his goal of becoming a WorldTour cyclist, avoiding distractions. "I sometimes thought that cycling was making me miss out on all the fun," Pogačar admitted in a 2019 interview. "But in the end, it’s worth putting so much effort into what you love to do. Cycling has given me a very special life. Without a bike and fellow cyclists, I would probably be bored."
Despite any potential divisions between Slovenian and foreign riders on the Ljubljana Gusto Xaurum team, Pogačar was known for his welcoming nature. Tim Guy, another teammate, described him as anything but the relentlessly driven athlete he appeared to be on the bike. "Off the bike, you didn’t get the idea of this unbelievably dogged, selfish, directed person," Guy explained. "That’s not the vibe he gave. I remember doing some interviews with him [for the team], and you’re just laughing around." He even showed off his racing skills during a go-karting outing for Guy's birthday.
Guy believes that Pogačar's success stems from KD Rog's developmental approach, which focused on 'gamification' and fostering his natural talent rather than forcing him into a rigid structure. "Because you can try to force someone into [being] a robot, and you probably don’t want him as a robot. You want him doing stupid moves with 80 km to go. You could easily beat that out of someone … you could see that personality, and it seems like that stayed." In essence, they nurtured his inherent risk-taking and aggressive racing style.
So, what do you think? Was Pogačar's early success due to raw talent, a supportive team environment, or a combination of both? And do you believe that a more relaxed approach to training, like the one employed by KD Rog, is the key to unlocking a rider's full potential? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Tadej Pogačar: Unstoppable by Andy McGrath (Bloomsbury Sport) is available to buy now.
