'I've crashed six times this year': Tadej Pogačar feels stress of yellow as he answers questions of doubt
Heavy is the head that pulls on the yellow jersey as Pogačar readies himself for Ventoux challenge

For the first time on the rest day, Tadej Pogačar was asked the question of whether cycling can trust the dominance he's displayed so far at the Tour de France, to which the yellow jersey replied: "I think we have a lot of doping controls that prove [the doubters] wrong."
It's customary, given the sport's past, for the leader of the yellow jersey to be asked about his legitimacy, and when asked again at the post-race press conference after stage 10, Pogačar said the gaps he's achieving are due to his rivals having crashed earlier in the race and that if he opened up his files to the public, that would have the unwanted effect of helping his competition.
"Yesterday I was asked this question, I said the facts, I don’t know what to do, to do anything else to prove my innocence, I don’t know," he said. "I'm dominating this race but if you look at the times on the climbs you see why there are such gaps. The field after the crashes the first few days is just not the level it’s supposed to be. [On the other hand] I didn’t suffer any crashes.
"I would love to open up my files but then everyone sees your files and then they can use this against you in the race so it’s a little bit more difficult than that. But I can tell you I push good watts and that’s why I'm in first."
Pogačar took the yellow jersey last year at such late notice that we didn't get a chance to understand him as the leader of the Tour. This year he's grown into the jersey as the race progresses, answering questions with increasing flair and a confidence befitting how he's ridden the 2021 edition so far.
Last week, after the Slovenian won the stage five time trial, a UAE Team Emirates sports director said the only thing standing in the way of Pogačar and defending his yellow jersey was if he crashed, and Pogačar does seem to be one of those riders that always manages to stay upright.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Not so.
"I crashed six times this year," Pogačar reveals. "Crashes can happen so fast. I crashed five times in training this year just by surprise. I also crashed first day in the Tour. Crashes are a part of cycling, everyone in the peloton crashed a few times for sure. I need to be waiting for all the crashes, it’s quite stressful.
"In the bunch sprint I don’t take risks, I make an air bubble around me, so if something happens on the left I go right, on the right I go left, and I have space, so I don’t stress too much," Pogačar explained.
Tomorrow, on Mont Ventoux, Pogačar will face another tough test to his lead, but should he prove as powerful as he has so far in this race, he could replicate Chris Froome's win in yellow on the Giant of Provence in 2013.
"I've been there just once, just for the recon," Pogačar said. "I did two laps of the hard climb, and to just do two times up Mont Ventoux, especially tomorrow, it’s going to be a super hard day. A lot of things can go wrong or well. We’ll see tomorrow and we’re confident."
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Jonny was Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor until 2022.
I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
Not a typo! These Oura Gen 3 Smart Rings have up to $100 off – Get a deep dive on your health and well being with these Amazon deals
Deals The Oura Smart Rings one of the best way's to track biometrics with a focus on recovery and wellness
By Paul Brett Published
-
How to watch Gent-Wevelgem 2025: Everything you need to live stream the Flemish Classic
All the information on broadcasters and live streams for Gent-Wevelgem on 30 March, as the Spring Classics continue in Flanders.
By Adam Becket Published
-
Tadej Pogačar commemorates Strade Bianche crash with limited edition t-shirt - here's how you can buy it
Part of profits from new t-shirt will go to world champion's charity foundation
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Jonas Vingegaard out of Volta a Catalunya after Paris-Nice crash
Visma-Lease a Bike say two-time Tour de France winner needs more time to recover from wrist injury sustained in France last week
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'We've all got a little bit extra in us this year' - Ineos Grenadiers recapture 'fighting spirit' with aggressive Paris-Nice display
British team continue to put tumultuous 2024 behind them with momentum and a new found mentality
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Matteo Jorgenson aiming to 'set the bar higher' and target a Grand Tour after securing second Paris-Nice title
American explained that targeting a win in one of the sport's biggest three-week races was now the logical next step in his career
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Matteo Jorgenson rules out Tour de France leadership after Jonas Vingegaard's withdrawal from Paris-Nice
The American is on the cusp of a second consecutive victory at the Race to the Sun
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Could a TotalEnergies deal be the end of Ineos Grenadiers as we know them?
Reports suggested this week that Ineos could be close to signing a deal with the French petrochemical firm
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Why is Jonas Vingegaard wearing a special helmet at Paris-Nice?
The two-time Tour de France winner’s new helmet is part of a sponsorship deal that will see him wear the lid throughout the year
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I came pretty close' - Tom Pidcock left with mixed feelings after finishing second to Tadej Pogačar at Strade Bianche
Pidcock explains he didn’t want to ‘take advantage’ of world champion’s 'unfortunate' crash
By Tom Davidson Published