"To all the people booing: know that it gives my teammates a boos" - Pogacar responds to UAE riders facing boos at Tour de France
CyclingWednesday, 15 July 2026 at 11:45
The Tadej Pogacar show rolled on once again at the Tour de France on Tuesday as the UAE Team Emirates - XRG took another commanding stage win. Dominating the finale of stage 10 on the roads of Massif Central, it was a Bastille Day party for the Slovenian - but not everyone welcomed him with open arms.
Pogacar took off on the penultimate climb of the stage as he left Jonas Vingegaard and the other podium contenders in his wake. Amid the Slovenian's dominance of the Tour, some have voiced their displeasure online about the contrast between Pogacar and the rest of the field.
It's not only Pogacar who faced criticism. His UAE team have also been blasted for their aggressive control of stages that traditionally would be contested by attackers in the breakaway.
Pogacar and his squad are now experiencing criticism of a different form: roadside booing from fans. After the stage 10 triumph, Pogacar touched on how boos have a motivating influence on him and his team.
"I certainly have haters, and haters gonna hate," he said in a later interview with media.
Pogacar downplays booing issue in cycling
"It is always like that, even though it is not such a big deal in cycling. In tennis or football, there is much more booing, and people go against a team much more."
Likening the experience to tennis, Pogacar said fan hate reminds him of Novak Djokovic - who faced considerable criticism during his domination of the sport during his Grand Slam success that saw him win 24 titles.
"In tennis, it's one against the other, so naturally it's 50/50. I always think of Djokovic, of what a great mentality he has. I think he has one of the best careers in that, including the booing. That isn't necessarily hate, because he is the greatest."
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Booing gives UAE riders a boost
Pogacar doesn't see booing as an overwhelming negative in cycling. Noting that he sees children supporting multiple teams, he sees the beauty of the fandom.
He continued: "If someone boos, I always think of Djokovic. It is what it is. I also have to say that it isn't a big deal in cycling. 99% of people cheer for everyone. If you see children from a family, one is wearing Visma, another Groupama, and yet another UAE. You can see that they have favorites, even within a family, but it is very beautiful to see all the cycling fans."
Pogacar had a message for fans who boo him or UAE teammates: "I think they are the best of all sports, so I think we should be grateful for that. To all the people booing: know that it gives my teammates a boost. That is just adding fuel to the fire," he added.
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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- No one is asking vou anything!!!mus-musculuspeedypogigonzales15-07-2026
- The writer saying there's no clear evidence is like saying there is evidence but it's not clear. A very underhanded way of accusing him of doping. Shameful...Santiago15-07-2026
- Hard to make sense of this kind of behavior from fans. Imagine Usain Bolt getting boos instead of applause after another record-breaking run, or Roger Federer winning Wimbledon for the nth time, or Messi winning the Bol'D Or n consecutive times, and fans greeting their achievements with boos instead of cheers. Is this the Lance Armstrong Effect, or the Paul Seixas Effect? When Steffi Graf was dominating women's tennis, then Monica Seles came along and broke her dominance, a crazed German fan jumped the barriers and stabbed her in the back, effectively ending her outstanding career. These athletes are outstanding specimens of mankind, they perform heroic deeds for our viewing delight. But stupidity lurks everywhere, and sports rely on spectators for patronage, so you learn to take the good with the bad. Such a shame.FredMan15-07-2026
- Fair call. It can't be fun getting labelled the Biggest Runner-Up Washed Loser because you're up against a freak of nature every July, when you've won every Grand Tour and the biggest one twice, and probably plan to do all the one week races and apart from one Slovenian you generally destroy the field in GC/stage races.wrsty15-07-2026
- Yeah but, Lipopoel, Del Poggo, Skelayuso? Would be so much more interesting if the actors were redistributed and had to show their worth instead of dezling with family feuds (and trust me, no matter how cosy, when it comes to inheritance, it won’t be). It’s almost as if the powers that be want it this way for spectacle and headlineability.Mistermaumau15-07-2026
- Jorgensen is often meant to be a satellite rider for Jonas, so a dangerous rider to let up the road. Seems to be some bad blood there too, though.Hills3315-07-2026
- Mmm I think he has a grudge against Jorgensen . I have noticed he was never allowed up road what do ever even though he was so far down on GC. Pog is paid to win by his team and unless i am missing the body language they are always laughing and talking. Maybe Pog is the silent assassin lolpaultryan200215-07-2026
- From what he said after Stage 10, Gianetti was mad at him when he couldn't beat Jonas last time on this parcours, so he had to win now. He started looking over his shoulder while still racing down that tricky descent, and kept doing it right to the end, when he had nothing left in his legs. Meantime, Del Toro cracked, and McNulty faded completely. Again, I'm getting this strange feeling that people are watching different races.Hills3315-07-2026
- Isn't it more interesting to watch perfection in action...Pogi-Baby Hulk for the wins... or Baudin's victory against Gaudu and Romo? I just hate those who pray to be given victories. I would kick them out of the sport. And by the way... can someone remind me who said before the Tour: "Only now, after 2 years, does it feel like the old Jonas is back, I'm even stronger now than in 2023. I think I can beat Pogačar again, I've never felt better on a bike, I'm powerful."mus-musculuspeedypogigonzales15-07-2026
- As much as his physiology seems to be unique, at this point if this guy/team get's outed for doing the bad thing - you may as well knock pro-cycling on the head cuz it'll never come back from another scandal of this (hypothetical) magnitude. But it's lucky that big teams are backed by honest transparent organizations like the UAE, otherwise it'd all seem a bit too good to be true.wrsty15-07-2026
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