"Some riders can still improve, but Tadej Pogacar is the best in the world" - Matxin has no doubt in UAE leader's Tour de France hopes

The 2025 Tour de France is almost upon us and there seems to be little doubt over who is the man to beat. That honour has been widely bestowed upon the reigning champion Tadej Pogacar.

Pogacar has been all-conquering in his dominance over the last couple of seasons, most recently dominating a Criterium du Dauphiné peloton that also held Maillot Jaune hopefuls Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel. “He is constantly improving, and I don't know where his limits are, but given his results, attitude, and that of his teammates, his performances are amazing and convincing,” UAE boss Joxean Matxin tells British journalist Daniel Benson as part of the latter's SubStack. “He's a super leader. He's not just a champion; he's a real leader. He pays attention to his teammates and the entire staff, which helps him be his leader and champion.”

Whilst this year, Pogacar heads to the Tour off the back of a predominantly one-day calendar, Matxin believes his team leader is likely to be just as good if not better than he was in 2024, when he arrived off the back of a Giro d'Italia win.

“If you compare it to last year’s Giro or Tour, it’s different now. Last year, the preparation for the Giro was very different because he didn’t want to use too much energy for the Tour. The focus and goals were different,” explains Matxin, although he admits he doesn't know how much more Pogacar will improve ahead of the Tour. “That's something for the performance team. But in terms of Tadej's rest, training camps, equipment, and concentration, he is experiencing one of the best moments of his career. He also has a great team around him, and all the riders believe in him.”

Further improvement or not though, Pogacar will be difficult to beat. “He is the best rider in the world," says Matxin firmly. "I think some riders can still improve in the coming weeks, but Tadej always tries to win, and the Dauphiné was a race that suited him perfectly. He is the best rider in the world and wins ahead of Jonas and Remco, so I believe Tadej is on the right track for the Tour.”

"As for Jonas, I analyze the other riders, not just him, and I study them and their tactics. Perhaps the Tour is a race that better suits his racing style. The Giro, Liège, Flanders, races on the cobbles, and the Dauphiné are naturally perfect for Tadej. Still, the Tour is a different race, and the first nine days are very complex this year," concludes the UAE Team Emirates - XRG boss. “The longer climbs and the heat make Jonas the main rival for the Tour, but Remco can also improve every day. However, we are not losing sight of the other riders. There is no room for arrogance. We know that the Tour is a super tough race to win.”