🎥 Pogačar in a relaxed and joking mode at Tour de Romandie: 'I prefer to be naked'

Tadej Pogačar is in his element at the Tour de Romandie. The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider won his second stage of the week on Thursday and afterwards explained why he is happy to have the Classics behind him.

Pogačar rode almost no races in the first four months of 2026, and everything he did contest was a one-day event. He opened his season in early March at Strade Bianche, which he won for the fourth time. He then claimed his first Milan-San Remo — his fourth Monument from five — and took a third Tour of Flanders victory. The hunt for Paris-Roubaix continues, however, after a second consecutive runner-up finish at his second attempt.

Pogačar rounded off the spring with a fourth win at Liège-Bastogne-Liège before switching his attention to stage racing. He is currently at Romandie and will also race the Tour de Suisse in June after a training block.

Asked about his experiences at Romandie — his first stage race since the 2025 Tour de France — Pogačar was positive in the press conference after stage two. He had relished "a crazy finale." "It was unpredictable."

"I'm happy to be able to win a stage like that, because there is a lot of adrenaline involved and many things can go right or wrong. That is always interesting and exciting," said the Slovenian, whose ability to read and react in chaotic finales has been sharpened by years of one-day racing.

Yet Pogačar also admitted he had been ready for a break from the high-stakes duels with Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert and Remco Evenepoel. "This is calmer. In the Classics it is always total chaos — a big peloton, constant stress, and just one day where everything has to go perfectly."

"Here there are five stages, on good roads, and everyone knows the climbs will decide things. If you have good legs, that means less stress. I'm enjoying riding around here with a little less pressure — though there will always be some stress on the climbs."

Just how relaxed Pogačar is became clear in a brief appearance on Swiss television after stage two. When asked whether he prefers riding in the yellow leader's jersey or the world champion's rainbow jersey, he didn't hesitate for a second. "I prefer to be naked."