UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s Tadej Pogacar knows the road to a fourth Tour de France title won’t be an easy cruise through the French countryside — and as the peloton took a well-earned pause on Tuesday, the defending champion made it clear that the race is far from decided.
While enjoying a rare moment of relaxation during the first rest day — indulging in a burger, a fresh haircut, and a quiet moment at a French cafe — Pogacar’s mind remained firmly focused on the challenges looming in the Pyrenees.
“The second week may be short, but it’s going to be crucial,” the 26-year-old Slovenian said.
After ten intense stages, Pogacar described the first week of the Tour as “explosive, nervous, stressful, and super-hard.”
He admitted that fatigue and soaring temperatures had taken a toll, and he didn’t hold back his frustration with the defensive tactics of Jonas Vingegaard’s Visma-Lease a Bike team.
But Pogacar, currently sitting second overall, just 29 seconds behind surprise leader Ben Healy, believes the shorter five-stage second week could be a turning point.
“Week two will be really fast,” he said — not referring to the pace of the race, but to how quickly the days will fly by. “We’re going to see some big gaps in the upcoming days, and I think it’s going to be good for me. It’s almost as hard as the final week.”
The emergence of new contenders like Ireland’s Healy and France’s Kevin Vauquelin has added unexpected depth to this year’s race. Pogacar welcomed the shift but acknowledged the added unpredictability.
“It’s not just the big teams. Everyone has proved they can stay up front,” he said. “The field is packed — it’s going to be a huge fight, even for the podium, and especially for the yellow jersey.”
He predicted that the race leader’s jersey would soon change hands.
“Not tomorrow on the flat,” he said, “but at the Hautacam,” referencing the fearsome Pyrenean climb scheduled for later in the week. “We’ll see if Ben (Healy) can hold on. I hope he feels tired. I want the yellow jersey back.”
Pogacar also circled Friday’s 11km uphill time trial to Peyragudes as a key moment in the race.
“I’m really looking forward to this week, especially the time trial,” he said, his expression brightening. “It’s a short one, but it’s going to be hard. And it suits me.”
The Tour winner in 2020, 2021, and 2024 — who was humbled in last year’s time trial and mountain stages by Vingegaard — seems determined to reassert himself on terrain where he once dominated.
Let Them Chase
With less than half the race remaining, Pogacar holds a slight advantage over rivals like Remco Evenepoel (third, 1:00 behind) and Vingegaard (fourth, 1:17 behind). But he insists the pressure to attack doesn’t lie with him.
“I’m under no pressure to go on the offensive,” he said. “It’s up to them if they want to get ahead of me.”
For now, Pogacar is poised — well-rested, re-energized, and ready to reclaim the yellow jersey as the mountains rise to meet him.
With 10 stages down and the punishing mountains of France still to come, UAE Team Emirates-XRG enter the second week of the 2025 Tour de France well place and full of momentum – ready to resume the fight for the Maillot Jaune.
Agencies
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