Tadej Pogacar admits mistakes in Dauphiné TT: "But it's okay - that's why we are here, to tune-up before the Tour and improve"
Cycling
Tadej Pogacar's bid for overall victory at the Criterium du Dauphiné took a hit on Wednesday after a lacklustre performance in the individual time trial. The Slovenian star lost 49 seconds to Remco Evenepoel and 28 to Jonas Vingegaard — his two key rivals, not just this week, but for July’s Tour de France.
After the stage, Pogacar was candid in his assessment, acknowledging that poor pacing cost him dearly. "I didn't do the perfect TT today," the UAE Team Emirates - XRG leader admitted. "I think I probably got the pacing slightly wrong. I started out on the first section a bit too conservative and should have pushed a bit more there."
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While the result leaves him with time to make up over the final few stages, the three-time Tour de France champion was quick to downplay the significance of his time loss, insisting that the bigger picture remains all about fine-tuning ahead of the Tour. "But it's okay - that's why we are here, to tune-up before the Tour and improve," he added.
"There are still three big stages to come here and I'm looking forward to it. The team is working well, and with the rivals we have here, it's the best place to test ourselves," Pogacar concluded his assessment.
Tadej Pogacar is 8th overall, 38 seconds behind leader Remco Evenepoel
A Controlled Build-Up
Pogacar’s comments reinforce the idea that, for many of the top GC contenders, the Dauphiné is as much about preparation as it is about podiums. The Slovenian has only just returned to full race rhythm after a commanding spring campaign capped off by a dominant Liège–Bastogne–Liège win. With the Tour just weeks away, he's clearly still sharpening his edge.
The time loss may put him on the back foot in the GC fight, but in typical Pogacar style, there’s no panic — just quiet confidence that the real targets are still to come.
It’s 4th place on the day for @TamauPogi in the stage 4 ITT ⏱️ #Dauphiné
— @UAE-TeamEmirates (@TeamEmiratesUAE) June 11, 2025
The Slovenian now sits 8th overall at the halfway point of the race, with the mountains still to come 🔜 #WeAreUAE pic.twitter.com/XTNGG3WG9y
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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- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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