Tadej Pogacar beaten by amateur cyclist - How Tour de France champion failed to win his own 'Pogi Challenge' for second year in a row
Cycling
For the second year in a row, Tadej Pogacar has failed to get the win in the showpiece of his own event: The Pogi Challenge. The special challenge pits amateurs against the Tour de France champion on his favourite climb in Slovenia.
As part of his post-Tour celebrations, the Slovenian returned to his hometown of Komeda and rode the main attraction on the third day of his Pogi Challenge event on Sunday.
The world champion took on 1,189 cycling enthusiasts on the Krvavec climb, which includes 12 kilometers at an average of 8.1%. Of course, if the UAE Team Emirates - XRG rider started alongside the participants, it would leave them with little to no chance of keeping pace - that's where it gets interesting.
Participants are given a head-start, before Pogacar is released upon its slopes a few minutes later. The hunt then begins as he hunts down every participant. However, he didn't have it all his own way - managing to finish in eighth place as German amateur Frederik Niessen reached the top first.
German amateur cyclist and six others beat Pogacar
It's not the first time Pogacar failed in his quest to go from last to first. In 2025, British amateur and climbing specialist Andrew Feather managed to keep Pogacar at bay and crest the climb first.
"At the foot it was a bit of chaos, with even a crash, but after that I kept riding well and suffered," Pogacar told the local media after the challenge.
The climb is Pogacar's favourite for a reason. He took his first-ever cycling victory on its slopes in 2009 many years before he would take the cycling world by storm and become a record-equalling Tour de France winner.
Before the race, Pogacar was in great spirits as he enjoyed his pot-Tour homecoming, joking that he hoped to conquer the climb as quickly as possible.
Pogacar in great spirits ahead of Vuelta decision
"Thanks for coming. Finally, we can race together," he addressed fans and participants beforehand. He added: "And yes, I hope that climb is over quickly."
Meanwhile, UAE and Pogacar are expected to confirm his plans for the final part of the season in the coming days. With extensive speculation linking him to a participation at the 2026 Vuelta a Espana, he finds himself with a decision to make.
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Due to the race ending in close proximity to the Montreal World Championships, a major goal for him in his bid to secure a third World Championships in a row, he and his team will evaluate if a participation in the Grand Tour is feasible.
Pogacar rode his first Grand Tour in 2019 at the Vuelta, but has not returned since. After securing a Giro d'Italia in 2024, a win in Spain would make him a treble Grand Tour winner.
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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- I think Jonas would have lost the TDF by 4+ minutes (at the least) and might not have even been in the top 3. Too much talent in the younger riders to say anyone not named Pogačar would have been top 3md197503-11-2026
- this is just stupid. you already have 23%, gravel is over the topabstractengineer03-11-2026
- There was once a time when Lance was supremely popular and he used his artificial "It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life" persona to lead his mob in going after Greg. There was no one Lance did not abuse in protecting his phony hero image. Lance promoted himself as a divine megastar and he let down millions of cancer victims and gullible devotees who clung far too long to the charade. Lance is the epitome of a corrupt person and because of his power, many around him, including business enterprises, succumbed to the evil. All who got in Armstrong's way were mercilessly attacked by him and his minions. This remarkably continues today with a new generation. LeMond was a number one enemy and paid a huge price. Who do you think slandered who?Yepperoni03-11-2026
- You despise him because he calls out the truth....OK clown !frieders303-11-2026
- JV is really slighting himself with not doing the 1 dayers.. 🤷
leedorney02-11-2026 - Watch the interview on youtube. I don't speak French. I do speak English and Spanish and you can hear it in his voice. Years ago LeMond had real personal problems I imagine in no small part because of Armstrong. then Armstrong goes round "full blast" re: LeMond having drinking and drug problems. The same way Andreu was expelled from mainstream cycling so was LeMond. On the positive side the clips of the ride and chatting with old teammates and was good. To seemed like a fun day and experience and good reason brush up his French.atom02-11-2026
- and another no-news article around the ‚2 tokyo jogging rounds‘ headline, this time spiced with some days old ‚news‘ that the LA and japan vacation trips come during or after the tdf route release. i am getting more and more annoyed by this time-stealing no-news crap. but who am i to complain? nobody forces me to come back for more ‚news‘ day after day …Ketterechts02-11-2026
- It would likely be a very steep section of 4.1 km, not changing the average gradient considerably, with the climb remaining 10.1 km at 11.8%. It would reach 20% on the gravel. It would start 1.6 km in, and finish with 4.2 km left to climb (before the short final descent)
Rafionain-Glas02-11-2026 - Welcome to the off-season.
santiagobenites02-11-2026 - guillaume martin in this list is quite a surprise as a gc rider.Ketterechts02-11-2026
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