Naesen firmly dismisses Pogačar doping allegations: 'I can pedal for 2 minutes at the intensity he maintains for 45 minutes'
CyclingThursday, 16 July 2026 at 15:16
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Follow us on GoogleThe dominance of Tadej Pogacar and UAE Emirates-XRG is causing some resentment in the peloton in 2026. Over the past ten years, Oliver Naesen has often witnessed how Pogacar’s team—or Jonas Vingegaard’s—dominated the Tour de France. Writing in Het Nieuwsblad, the Belgian domestique sheds his always insightful light on the matter.
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"In a league of his own," is how Naesen describes Pogacar. The Belgian rider from Decathlon CMA CGM also saw Ilan Van Wilder's interview on Sporza, in which Van Wilder said "he didn't understand it anymore." “A brilliant interview. So honest. And it perfectly captures the feeling everyone has,” Naesen told Het Nieuwsblad.
"I've been through this with Mathieu van der Poel, too. And it has absolutely nothing to do with doping allegations. But in the classics, you're completely spent as you cross the finish line. You can see that you've pushed your best wattages. You’ve been riding in a group with a few strong riders the whole time. And then you hear that VDP won after an 80-kilometer solo breakaway.”
"You can't wrap your head around it, because you compare that performance to what you're capable of yourself," says Naesen, explaining how people in the peloton view it—and how they ride. "I did the math using Pogacar’s wattages: converted to watts per kilogram, I can pedal for 2 minutes at the intensity he maintains for 45 minutes. Crazy."
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Oliver Naesen rode the Tour ten times.
Naesen dismisses the allegations as nonsense
The ever-outspoken Belgian reiterates that any allegations are baseless. “If UAE were cheating, a former rider or former employee would have created an anonymous Twitter account long ago and aired the team’s dirty laundry.”
"I know Florian Vermeersch and Benoît Cosnefroy very well. When I ask them about the secret behind UAE, they say quite honestly that there isn't one. I see a rider who has won the genetic lottery, trains incredibly hard, and is extremely motivated,” Naesen concludes resolutely.
Pogačar likens himself to Djokovic as crowd boos on stage 10
Tadej Pogacar avenged his 2024 defeat to Jonas Vingegaard by winning at Le Lioran, praising his UAE Emirates-XRG team and admitting he was completely spent in the finale. He said he only believed victory was certain in the last kilometer, mindful of Bastille Day and grateful for the massive crowds despite some booing.
Despite a dominant performance, parts of the Tour de France crowd voiced their displeasure by booing the yellow jersey. Addressing the jeers, he said “haters gonna hate,” citing Novak Djokovic’s mentality as inspiration and noting that negativity only fuels his team. Pogacar revealed the team’s new earpieces failed amid large crowds, leaving him without time gap info over the final 10 km. Confident about the Tour so far, he said the course suits the team, lauded teammates’ work, and highlighted Isaac Del Toro’s fighting spirit despite time loss.
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David Bavin-HobbsChief Editor
David has been working in the sports & cycling industry for 16 years. Covering racing, business and technology, he has worked in communications for cycling companies, teams, and as a journalist. His proudest achievement is winning the first bike race he ever entered. He hasn't won a race since.
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Latest Comments
- - Wow, I didn’t know wearing Pantani’s earring was even allowed. Does UCI normally permit jewelry in races, or was that strictly for the Olympics?gearguru3312-08-2026
- - Not totally sold on the “excellent sprinter” tag yet. Different beast when you’ve got 180 riders fighting for wheels at 70 kph. Let’s see him in a lead-out before crowning anything.cadencekingm12-08-2026
- - Great read. 7,330 km plus Arc 1950 camp after a broken collarbone shows proper commitment. If he can handle positioning and bunch dynamics, Tour du Limousin could suit him with those rolling stages.breakawaybikerd12-08-2026
- - Curious: how does biathlon explosiveness really translate to sprinting on the road? Is the power profile comparable to a 15–20s sprint after 4 hours? Genuinely wondering.julien12-08-2026
- - Love this move. Jacquelin’s VO2 and altitude background from biathlon could make him lethal on punchy finishes. La Polynormande is a tough debut but perfect to learn race craft. Chapeau to Decathlon CMA CGM for thinking outside the box.samanthak12-08-2026
- - Gran artículo, muy bien explicado sobre el diseño de etapas. Only doubt: if FDJ had a healthy Berthet, do you think Vollering wins Ventoux and shuts the door earlier?tourdeforce911-08-2026
- - Super take on spacing the real mountain stages late. Saving Ventoux-style deciders keeps the GC alive. More echelons and punchy stages early would force teams like UAE to work all week, not just set tempo and wait.breakawaybikerd11-08-2026
- - Love the comparison, but you’re a bit harsh on the men’s race. Yes, Pogačar is a level above, but there were still tactical battles behind. Also, small correction—are you sure about Koch as Paris‑Roubaix winner this spring? Thought that was Vos.samanthak11-08-2026
- - Question: When you say Reusser was “almost always on her own,” was that due to Movistar’s roster choices or riders getting dropped early? I thought Arlenis Sierra would have been more present in the finales—did I miss an injury or tactical call?sprocketspiny11-08-2026
- - Brilliant piece. The TdFF route design was spot on—kept the GC tight until the final weekend and rewarded bold racing. Niewiadoma’s consistency plus Reusser’s diesel engine rides were immense. FDJ’s depth looked scary on paper, but the Ventoux miss showed you still have to execute.robert6511-08-2026
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