“It is very important to see the shape” - Tadej Pogacar uses brutal Tour de Suisse finale as final mountain test before Tour de France

Tadej Pogacar’s Tour de Suisse is almost won, but the final stage around Villars-sur-Ollon still carries major value before the Tour de France.

The UAE Team Emirates - XRG leader starts the last day with yellow firmly under control after winning the stage 4 time trial in Aarburg by just four hundredths of a second ahead of Mathieu van der Poel. Stage 5 now gives him the one test the race had not yet delivered: a full high-mountain day under pressure.

The route starts and finishes in Villars-sur-Ollon, covers 151.1 kilometres, and includes 4,226 metres of elevation gain. With the repeated Col de la Croix circuit shaping the day, the finale is far removed from a quiet procession towards the overall win.

Speaking to Cycling Pro Net before the start, Pogacar made clear that the final stage was about more than defending the jersey.

Pogacar starts stage 5 with a 4:22 lead over Richard Carapaz in the general classification, with Mathias Vacek third at 4:27, Andrea Bagioli fourth at 4:46 and Brandon McNulty fifth at 5:16. UAE have already won three of the first four stages, with Pogacar taking stages 1 and 4 and Jhonatan Narvaez winning stage 3.

The final mountain stage gives UAE another chance to use that depth, but Pogacar first pointed to the demands of managing the team across a hard route. “Today is a lot about team management and energy management, how we go through the stage with all the riders,” said Pogacar. “We hope for a good day, that all of our teammates have a good day.”

Asked whether he wanted to win again himself, Pogacar answered directly: “Yeah, for sure. We are here to win.”

UAE still have more than one way to approach the stage. McNulty sits inside the top five overall after the time trial, Felix Grossschartner remains another climbing option, and Narvaez has already turned one difficult day this week into a stage win.

Pogacar left open the possibility of a teammate going for the stage if the race situation allows it. “I don't know,” he said. “If there is a chance, yeah. Brandon and Felix have for sure good climbing legs here. Also Johnny. Then we see.”

The Tour de Suisse has already tested Pogacar in different ways. His long solo on stage 1 showed his race-winning power, the Aarburg time trial confirmed his speed against the clock, and UAE’s stage 3 win showed the strength around him.

The Villars-sur-Ollon finale now brings the climbing test. With the Tour de France close, it gives Pogacar a chance to measure his legs and UAE’s mountain control on terrain much closer to what awaits in July.

“It is very important to see the shape,” said Pogacar when asked about the stage’s significance before the Tour de France. “I think we are on a good way, so it is good confirmation. Today is the last one.”

Pogacar has already put himself on the brink of overall victory. Stage 5 gives him one last hard mountain day, one last UAE test, and one final race-speed check before the Tour de France.