“I got a bit carried away in the gym” – Tadej Pogacar admits he’s heavier than usual after Classics focus as Romandie climbs raise potential Tour de France question

Tadej Pogacar tightened his grip on the Tour de Romandie with a commanding ride on the queen stage, but his post-stage reflections offered a rare glimpse into a potential weakness that could shape the months ahead.

After dropping Florian Lipowitz on the final ascent and extending his overall advantage, the race leader acknowledged that his preparation for the Spring Classics has left him carrying more weight than usual, something he felt over the course of the stage.

Speaking after the finish to Cycling Pro Net, Pogacar admitted the difference was noticeable, particularly beyond the climb itself. “I mean would be okay also to arrive with him to the finish, would be a bit easier. The downhill I was really suffering. He gave me hard time more on the last part than on the climb I think. So yeah, it was good.”

That assessment underlined the nature of the test he faced. While he ultimately distanced Lipowitz on the climb, the effort was far from straightforward, with the German repeatedly forcing him to respond.

Even so, Pogacar was clear that the outcome still played into his hands from a general classification perspective. “But yeah, if even if we come together in the end, yeah, just the gap would be smaller, so tomorrow would be more nervous. But now it's a little bit bigger gap, so I'm more comfortable for tomorrow.”

The more revealing moment came when discussion turned to his physical condition. After a Spring campaign built around races such as Milano-Sanremo and Paris-Roubaix, Pogacar confirmed that his current weight is higher than in a typical stage race build-up. “Yeah, it's not – I won't deny that I'm heavier than usual, but yeah, I feel good on the bike. That's what's for me the most important, that I don't struggle and have a good time.”

Pressed further on that change, he pointed directly to his training focus in recent months. “Yeah. I mean I got a little bit carried away in the gym also. I really, really liked it and got into it. So maybe now it's time to back off a little bit.”

That candid admission adds an intriguing layer to his Romandie performance. This was his first major stage race appearance of 2026, and the queen stage provided the first sustained climbing test against rivals targeting the Tour de France.

Despite that, Pogacar still proved decisive when it mattered, accelerating clear in the final kilometre to take control of the stage and the race. Yet the margins, and the effort required to create them, offered a different picture to the outright dominance seen at times in previous seasons.

For now, the Slovenian remains firmly in charge of the general classification and on course for overall victory. But his own words suggest that, even in winning, Romandie has already provided an early reference point.

With the Tour de France looming, the balance between his Classics power and climbing efficiency may yet become one of the defining themes of his season.