Pogacar makes precious mistakes in off season, says Gilbert: 'Was surprised to see him in so many different places'

Over the past two years, Tadej Pogacar has raced just about every major event on the calendar. He started in every Monument and won the Tour de France in both seasons. But that kind of programme also comes at a cost: the season is long, and the obligations are many. Is all that activity actually good for him? And perhaps more importantly: is the Slovenian even stoppable?

Philippe Gilbert knows what it means to race - and win - many of cycling’s biggest events. Yet according to the former world champion, the issue with Pogacar is not purely sporting. Instead, he focuses on the media attention and the obligations that come with being world champion. "Perhaps it is precisely this aspect that exhausts him,” Gilbert tells Le Soir. “I was surprised to see him in so many different places this autumn. I sometimes wonder how he can rest and really focus on his training.”

After his long road season, Pogacar appeared in post-season criteriums in Andorra and Monaco, while also attending UAE team events on Gran Canaria and in the Emirates. “He was present at many events. He is always extremely generous, gives a lot of himself, donates equipment for auctions, and so on. But from mid-October to early December, a professional cyclist needs rest and silence.”

Pogacar himself has been open about the mental pressure that comes with such commitments. But Gilbert also believes the Slovenian has been draining himself in races. The Belgian sees a rider who has been forced to go against his natural instincts in recent years. “His team told him: ‘Stop attacking, just follow, just follow - we’re not asking you to win stages anymore.’ By imposing that on Tadej, you force him to race against his natural instincts. He’s the kind of rider you should be telling: ‘Go for it, enjoy yourself.’”

There is currently no rider with the same appetite for racing and winning as the Slovenian, and only one comes close to matching his hunger for success. “He wants to become the greatest cyclist of all time, and he’s well on his way. Although comparing eras will always be difficult, cycling has evolved enormously between the time of Eddy Merckx and today. It’s hard to compare performances, but there is one thing we can compare: the will to win.”

“Eddy never stopped, and neither does Tadej,” Gilbert continues. “We’re not talking here about Miguel Indurain, who could win the Tour without winning a single stage. Pogačar is the complete opposite: he needs the queen stages, the time trials, maybe even all the jerseys to write history.” Gilbert points to the final stage of the Tour de France as an example.

Wearing the yellow jersey, Pogacar went all-in to win the stage, even though it involved considerable risk. In the end, he was beaten by Wout van Aert, but Gilbert loved every moment of it. “The cobbles were wet and slippery; all the ingredients were there for a crash and for putting the overall victory in danger, but he went for it. He loves it!”