Slovenian cycling superstar Tadej Pogacar has revealed he contemplated abandoning the Tour de France during his otherwise dominant 2025 season due to severe physical and mental exhaustion. The multi-Grand Tour winner confessed to reaching a point where he “eventually got fed up with everything.”
Pogacar, who rides for the UAE Team Emirates, shared these insights on the ‘Tour 202’ podcast. His revelations came during an appearance at a popular race in his home country, Slovenia.
The critical period occurred following the Mont Ventoux stage, when Pogacar experienced knee pain. The next day, during the arrival at La Plagne, Pogacar described feeling a “terrible cold” and his body “simply shut down.”
He finished third in that mountainous stage, recording the same time as rival Jonas Vingegaard and just two seconds behind winner Thymen Arensman.
Pogacar explained that his body entered a “defensive mode,” retaining fluids and feeling “in shock.” He felt “completely out of it, physically and mentally exhausted.” This profound struggle led him to consider withdrawing from the race entirely.
“I was saturated,” Pogacar said. “I wasn’t feeling well, neither body nor mind. I was saturated with everything.”
Reflecting on the demands of multi-week races, Pogacar acknowledged that maintaining peak condition throughout is impossible. “Everyone who has competed in a Grand Tour knows what it’s like. By the end of the first week, you already feel tired, and there are still two weeks left.”
Despite these challenges, Pogacar ultimately secured his fourth Tour de France victory. He then took a prolonged break, returning to competition one and a half months later. This extended rest proved highly beneficial, rejuvenating both his physical and mental state.
Pogacar concluded his 2025 season with a powerful string of four consecutive victories. These included the World Championship, European Championship, Tre Valli Varesine, and the Giro di Lombardia. His experience serves as a reminder that even for top-tier athletes, winning does not always reflect the hidden toll on body and mind.