"I can pedal for 2 minutes at the intensity he maintains for 45 minutes" - Oliver Naesen responds to Tadej Pogacar doping suspicions
Cycling
Oliver Naesen has shut down suspicions around Tadej Pogacar amid his dominance of the Tour de France. As the Slovenian cruises into week two with two stage wins and a firm grip on the yellow jersey, suspicions have arisen given his clear superiority over the peloton.
Pogacar put 2:38 into nearest challenger Jonas Vingegaard on Thursday's stage 6 in the high mountains, dominating the race and putting himself firmly in the GC driving seat. The performance has seen several online accusations as former professionals and riders discuss doping. No clear evidence has arisen and all claims are speculative.
Decathlon CMA CGM rider Naesen claims he has been through the motions before, stressing Pogacar's domination and the effects it has on the peloton is something he has felt in the classics in previous years.
Describing the experience of emptying the tank and posting record power numbers in spring classics, only for Mathieu van der Poel to have won solo further up the road, is a frustrating experience.
"I've been through this with Mathieu van der Poel, too. And it has absolutely nothing to do with doping allegations," Naesen explained on Het Nieuwsblad.
Naesen can't fathom Pogacar's level
"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 [Mathieu van der Poel, Ed.] won after an 80-kilometer solo breakaway.”
Naesen finds performances from Pogacar hard to fathom, claiming that the numbers Pogacar would put down in winning efforts as unsustainable for him to hold.
"You can't wrap your head around it, because you compare that performance to what you're capable of yourself," Naesen said.
He added: "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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Naesen dismisses doping allegations
When it comes to allegations, Naesen doesn't see any evidence or sustained claims as he dismissed allegations. He said: “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.”
Citing conversations with members of the team, he says there's no big secret. According to the Belgian, Tadej Pogacar's genetics paired with his motivation and training make him so strong.
"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."
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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Rafionain-Glas15-11-2026 - Many Europeans say that Austria, Switzerland and Slovenia are one of the most beautiful countries in Europe known for their stunning landscapes because of the Alp mountains, green forests, clean rivers and lakes, coastlines, and national parks.PogiSloFans15-11-2026
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- headline criticism agreed. but otherwise he certainly has a point. you can negotiate extra perks if you are way above he rest ... however, these times have long gone ...Ketterechts15-11-2026
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