"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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- Weird way of arguing to dispel suspicion. Let’s try another weird way to argue suspicion. There is no evidence any anonymous member of the public wants to harm children but would you leave when your child is in a playground and some guy is sitting around close by? It’s hunan nature to be suspicious and up to a point, healthy and useful, don’t tell people to stop. Some of the statements are downright silly, if anyone could prove it, there would be no point in accusing it would be fact. There are enough reasons to be suspicious, besides those that get repeated, how about the number of other riders where there was never proof or evidence who later admitted having doped or got caught out retrospectively? In any case, even if something were revealed it’s unlikely to be definedas doping, they’d be really stupid to try that AGAIN, but anything unfair that technically isn’t classable as doping will be argued as being legal and allowed. Anyone who knows Mauro knows how his lawyers work and the freedom it gives them in searching for no-risk solutions for advantages. You all seem to forget (or ignore) his personal experimentation with dopingless doping.Jumpyjohn12-07-2026
- Pity Traen crashed out, could have been this years’ surpriseJumpyjohn12-07-2026
- Can’t really tell your boss or sponsor you’re sraying home if they need you at work or pay you for it though, or is this how you function? It’s always been obvious he’d prefer not to have to go anymore, at least ever since he got his first stage to dedicate to his granpa.Jumpyjohn12-07-2026
- I think he went for it because it was an interesting stage for him to go for and because he felt in shape, no other reason. Or do you imagine he’d have held back if Jasper had won any or even ALL the sprints?Jumpyjohn12-07-2026
- Tadej Pogačar is facing another wave of doping allegations on social media and from skeptics following his historically dominant performances at the Tour de France. I want Vingegaard to be put through a scanner and analyzed in detail because it is impossible that in the 2nd toughest race in the world in May in the toughest sport, he made all 180+ cyclists look like amateurs with 80% strength. I want him to be examined in detail. He must be doping, just like Pogi. I want Merlier to be tested for gene doping and everything possible, because he must be cheating. Belgians, speak up!!! It is not possible that he is 5 times better than everyone else in the sprints, and he makes them look like amateurs. He must be doping, just like Pogi. I just want to hear Belgians on this topic.mus-musculuspeedypogigonzales12-07-2026
- I wasn't around during Merxck's peak. Was he openly questioned and surrounded by doping-related questions all the time too?Ride197412-07-2026
- Seems like Jasper is off this year, can't deliver more than a top 10. That's probably why MVDP went for it today. He gave Jasper two good chances, but nothing.Ride197412-07-2026
- Like in horse racing?Ride197412-07-2026
- You can see the problem with the opening stages being GC focused. There are only 9 riders in the race who are fighting for GC. The tenth spot will not be filled by a GC rider, and it will simply be the breakaway climber who loses the least time. Compare that with last year, where there was an interesting battle to stay in the top 10, between Ben Healy, Ben O'connor and Jordan Jegat, with O'connor having to settle for 11th. In 2024 it was even better, as Matteo Jorgenson, Derek Gee-West, Santiago Buitraigo and Giulio Ciccone battling it out. Having the GC open from the start means that only riders who came aiming for it end up doing it. You don't get riders who end up up there almost accidentally.
Rafionain-Glas12-07-2026 - I do find it quite hilarious how Horner's "analysis" is disproven so oftenRafionain-Glas12-07-2026
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