“He throws away the victory” – Ex pro Michael Rasmussen criticises a rare Tadej Pogacar defeat
Cycling
Danish former pro Michael Rasmussen, who secured four Tour
de France stage victories during his career, has voiced criticism over a rare
defeat suffered by Tadej Pogacar this season. Now a cycling expert for Viaplay,
the 50-year-old spoke candidly about a rare blip in Tadej Pogacar’s otherwise impeccable
season, back in the second week of the Tour de France.
"If you have to put a finger on Pogacar's season, he
actually throws away the victory on the 11th stage, which Vingegaard wins.
There was no doubt that Pogacar was light years stronger," he said, in an
interview with Feltet.
According to the ex-pro, it was a critical error in
nutrition that cost Pogacar the stage. "But he simply forgets to eat and
drink in his zeal. When the stage was over, Frans Maassen sat and thought, 'no,
no, we could have lost the Tour by a minute and a half already if he (Pogacar)
had remembered to eat.'"
He went on to analyse Pogacar’s uncharacteristic performance
during the final sprint. "It's a style study in stepping squarely. I have
never seen Pogacar stand up and sit down again so many times in one sprint. In
99 out of 100 times, he beats Vingegaard in a sprint," he observed.
Despite the setback, this defeat was a mere blip in
Pogacar's otherwise dominant season. The Slovenian star claimed the prestigious
triple crown, leaving his competition far behind, except for this one notable
exception.
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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