“Tadej Pogacar gave everyone a fancy Green Egg barbecue smoker” – The unique present UAE teammates received after Tour de France win

On NBC Sports’ Cycling Beyond the Podium podcast, Tejay van Garderen shared a revealing anecdote about life inside UAE Team Emirates - XRG: after winning the Tour de France back in 2021, Tadej Pogacar thanked his key teammates with a high-end barbecue smoker — the cult Big Green Egg.

Van Garderen made clear the story came straight from Brandon McNulty, one of Pogacar’s most trusted lieutenants. "Brandon told me a funny story," he began his retelling. "After his first Tour with Tadej in 2021, when Pogacar won, he gave his teammates a gift… Pogacar gave everyone a fancy Green Egg barbecue smoker."

There was just one problem and McNulty’s reaction — as relayed by Van Garderen — added the punchline: "Brandon said, 'Wow, this is really nice… but I live in an apartment in Girona. I can’t use this thing!' It was funny and endearing — very Tadej.’"

While amusing on the surface, the story underscores Pogacar’s approach to team leadership. Unlike traditional gestures — cash bonuses or organized vacations, as Cadel Evans famously did in 2011 — Pogacar’s choice is personal and playful, a nod to his personality and a subtle way of showing gratitude. Van Garderen explained: “Some winners give cash or vacations — Cadel Evans, for example, did that in 2011. But Tadej, he’s a young guy at heart. He thought, ‘I love this, so everyone else will too.’ It’s thoughtful, it’s a little off the wall, and it’s something that brings people together.”

This is particularly significant for Brandon McNulty, who has become an indispensable lieutenant in Pogacar’s grand tour campaigns. Van Garderen highlighted the dual role McNulty plays: delivering in high-pressure moments on the road while also embodying the team’s supportive ethos. “Brandon was one of the guys setting tempo in the Pyrenees and the Alps, putting himself in the wind so Tadej could strike. He’s brilliant at what he does, and Tadej knows it. That’s why he wanted to give something special back.”

The gift illustrates a broader culture at UAE: victories are never individual. Every stage win and every GC podium is built on a network of support riders, and gestures like the Green Egg smoker reinforce the team’s loyalty and morale. As Van Garderen put it: “It’s a young team, but there’s a real sense of camaraderie. When riders see that their leader recognizes their hard work, it strengthens the group. The Green Egg might seem funny, but it’s a reward they’ll remember every time they use it.”

Iconic Tour de France commentator Phil Liggett added historical context, noting how cycling’s top riders have long found ways to reward those who sacrifice for the team. Yet Pogacar’s gift stands out not only for its novelty, but also for its personal, human touch. “Cycling history is littered with riders rewarding their domestiques. But this is different — it’s personal, playful, and shows Pogacar values the human side of the team,” Liggett said.

In a sport defined by physical sacrifice, the story of the barbecue smoker is a reminder that small gestures can carry big meaning. McNulty and his teammates not only earned their leader’s trust on the road, but now have a token of appreciation to remember it by — one that combines humor, utility, and Pogacar’s characteristic charm.

“It’s a small thing, but it means a lot,” Van Garderen concluded. “It’s a way of saying, ‘I see you, I appreciate you, and we’re in this together.’ That’s Tadej.”