“It seems incredibly tough to live in his shoes” – Rival reflects on the pressures of Tadej Pogacar’s fame
Cycling
At the very top of modern men’s cycling, dominance no longer brings just sporting control. It brings visibility, expectation, and a level of attention that never truly switches off. That reality was laid bare this week by Oliver Naesen, speaking in an interview with IDL Pro Cycling about what it is like to race in the same era as Tadej Pogacar.
Naesen’s comments came while reflecting on the changing nature of racing at the Tour of Flanders, where the presence of Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel has fundamentally altered what is tactically possible for the rest of the peloton.
“With those two at the start, there isn’t much dreaming,” Naesen said. “They’ve also got a world-class team that completely sacrifices itself.”
He pointed to how riders who once looked like contenders now struggle even to race for their own results, highlighting how collective strength and star power have reshaped the balance inside the bunch.
“That’s just not fun”
Asked whether such dominance affects a rider’s willingness to attack, Naesen’s answer shifted from tactics to something more human. He suggested that Pogacar’s position at the very top of the sport now comes with a cost that goes far beyond racing.
“We’ll only be able to properly judge what they’re doing in a few years,” he said. “Because he’s not going to keep it up for another ten years. It seems incredibly tough to live in his shoes.”
Naesen then referenced a moment he had recently seen from Pogacar’s training, using it as a snapshot of how little privacy cycling’s biggest star now enjoys. “I recently saw a little clip of a pee break in training, with a fan sprinting up to him. He can barely pull his shorts back up. That’s just not fun.”
The remark was not framed as criticism, but as quiet empathy from a rider who operates a step removed from that level of global attention.
A different world of attention
Naesen contrasted Pogacar’s experience with his own, and with that of Belgium’s biggest names, explaining that even in one of cycling’s most intense fan cultures, there remains a line between recognition and intrusion.
“With me, people look into my trolley in the supermarket and say, ‘Ah, a bag of crisps, what are we doing mate?’” he said. “People over 60 know me, at least on the train. Then they look at me and go, ‘Who are you again?’ In a charming and polite way.”
He noted that riders such as Wout van Aert and Remco Evenepoel already live with a far higher level of attention, even during routine rides. Pogacar’s situation, he implied, has moved beyond that entirely.
“For their coffee ride they practically need a dark corner table,” Naesen added.
Dominance with a price
Naesen’s reflections offer a rare perspective from inside the peloton, not on how Pogacar wins races, but on what it costs to exist permanently at the centre of the sport. While the Slovenian continues to redefine what is possible on the road, Naesen’s comments suggest that the burden of being cycling’s most recognisable figure is now felt just as strongly away from it.
It is a reminder that in an era of overwhelming dominance, even success comes with pressures that are increasingly difficult to escape.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- This is a phenomenal course design. I do wish that they'd stretch these tours for the women to at least 2 weeks.RidesHills03-11-2026
- This is an amazing route, honestly. Let's hope that it attracts riders to make it a compelling and competitive race. Side bar amusement: going to Slovenia and passing pretty close to Pogačar's house. I wonder if they were tempting him to get all 3 jerseys at once after winning the Tour and Vuelta. After all, only a very few have ever had all three at the same time (Froome being the last).RidesHills03-11-2026
- He was a child two years ago
Rafionain-Glas03-11-2026 - A great route aswell. Col d'Arpy is a toughieRafionain-Glas03-11-2026
- Let Torito have a shot at itRafionain-Glas03-11-2026
- A great route, much more exciting than the Tour de France. Monte Livata is an interesting one, because they experimented with it at the 2026 Baby Giro, and it was fantastic. 4 km at 10%, then 10 km at 6.5% made for a great spectacle. The stage 16 is horrible. Montaner is also used in the U23s, in Giro del BelvedereRafionain-Glas03-11-2026
- I remember when Mark went through that. He was really experiencing lows and thought about quiting many times. It took him a long time to recover. I, like many others were overjoyed when he came back. I hope Lafay has been tested. I wish him the best.Paggss03-11-2026
- That sucks for him. I've always wondered what guys like him do after retiring from cycling - go back to uni? He's still a very young manCrashjames03-11-2026
- Good Point, I wonder if he's been testedmhfrvz03-11-2026
- A busy boy!Lozza03-11-2026
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