"Sometimes you simply have no explanation for something" - Zonneveld responds to Pogacar suspicions after dominant Tour de France display
CyclingSunday, 12 July 2026 at 13:15
Tadej Pogacar's 2026 Tour de France so far after eight stages can be summarised in one way: dominance. The Slovenian has soared to a commanding 2:42 lead over nearest rival Jonas Vingegaard in the general classification in a single stage raid.
That stage was a Pyreneean beast as the world champion set off on Col du Tourmalet, building a gap over the top of the climb before a ferocious descent and a draining shallow climb to the finish line. As the dust settled on Thursday, many analysts and riders couldn't get over the UAE Team Emirates XRG rider's performances.
The nature of Pogacar's dominance has led to the emergence of suspicions on social media with multiple doping accusations. Analyst Thijs Zonneveld has his doubts about whether those accusations carry any weight or evidence.
Speaking on the podcast In de Waaier, Zonneveld said: "It is always possible that doping is involved, but I wouldn't vouch for anyone. But then he would be the only one with a doping substance that would make him better in every area. I don't know what it would be then."
Stressing the need for evidence before levelling accusations, Zonneveld thinks there is none. Pointing to the world champion enjoying success at underage levels before joining the UAE project, Zonneveld notes that a number of factors could explain his increasingly dominant displays.
Zonneveld says there's no evidence to support accusations
"If you make such accusations, you must be able to prove it. And there is exactly zero evidence."
He added: "Then he went to UAE, which I still find a strange choice, because UAE was a team with money back then, but not with good guidance, or something like that. He eventually found a place there where they could guide him in the best way."
The sport's evolution means that nutrition, training and recovery have taken massive leaps in recent years. Riders now ingest higher numbers of carbohydrates than ever.
He said: "In five years, we have moved from 60 grams of carbohydrates per hour to 120 grams. And what if we start adding lactate to gels? Then you can buffer away even more lactic acid. The development is not yet complete. This is also because a number of very wealthy teams have emerged, which have entered a kind of arms race."
No explanation for continued inprovements
Nonetheless, Pogacar's improvements have put him a step above most of the peloton. His remarkable tendancy to stay fit and healthy while racing is also a noticeable advantage as his career blossoms.
Zonneveld noted the reactions of his fellow professionals and the effect it has had on their motivation.
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"But the fact that he has continued to develop physically in this way... Sometimes you simply have no explanation for something. Other than the fact that he is never sick or rarely falls, allowing him to keep building up."
He concluded: "I don't know if he isn't using doping, but I'm certainly not sure that he is. But that question about his dominance is definitely on people's minds in the peloton. Some make a joke of it, others shake their heads when they see their deficit in a mountain stage like that."
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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- Big? I’m always surprised how SMALL gaps are. Winning the Tour by 5 minutes is like winning the 100m sprint by 0.01s Bolt would be winning the Tour (and many other races) by over an hour comparing performance gaps. If the winner ends with an average of 42.9, second will be 42.86Mistermaumau12-07-2026
- Good, then you should also realise how complicated and chaotic it is to completely change timing of such an event and that it won’t be done except in extreme circumstances, the temperatures are not extreme for pros in any way, especially historically, heck amateurs make a point of organising races in far worse conditions just for the experience, Death Valley and the Sahara are prime locations. I expect discussions for earlier future starting times have been held already but that there just isn’t enough justification for change yet. You can tell it’s not a drastic issue within the sport yet, those fighting for change have very few arguments or examples. Sorry but dragging Simpson into it shows desperation and suggesting a blanket time warp from June to September is just a bureaucratic solution to an imaginary problem. Along those lines you should be rewiring the school calendar so kids no longer go during that period, just IN CASE there’s a heatwave. Good luck selling that to parents, especially after everyone’s COVID experience. It seems that very few people can handle looking at global pictures or situations from more than one perspective, all they care about is getting people to bend to their will, with absolutely no concern for other consequences., usually because they don’t realise all that might change.Jumpyjohn12-07-2026
- Other than probably having tried a PFP diet? He’s making MVDP look like a body builder.Jumpyjohn12-07-2026
- Good thing he can ride instead of watch then. Sorry but boredom comes through lack of imagination or some other weakness of the mind. EVERYTHING can be interesting depending on the attitude you take to it. If you find this pretty much expected scenario boring, just blot out the leader, pretend he doesn’t exist or matter) and focus on the rest.Mistermaumau12-07-2026
- Touche, Girmay.
santiagobenites12-07-2026 - Yes, Tadej should relinquish the yellow jersey to.... Jonas! And then get it back on the mountain stages, just to prove he can!Lobz7712-07-2026
- Hills, you're right, don't listen to maumau. You can write what ever you want, even the most correct and true comment, maumau will find a new philosophy, known only to him, and he will contradict your thinking. He's doing it to everyone.mus-musculuspeedypogigonzales12-07-2026
- The more I hear from people like Wiggins, the more I realise how suspect Team Sky was.
Senna196012-07-2026 - Yes, I did all of that before posting, with a few weather sites (not Google), and already knew that they were riding towards a slightly cooler place, but it still ends up with them riding in the hottest part of the day. Several cyclists have called for earlier starting times in general.Hills3312-07-2026
- Balls. Big balls.bobo12-07-2026
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