"Tadej Pogacar told me: 'Tim, we have a problem'" – Tim Wellens reveals emergency hospital trip for UAE leader during 2025 Tour de France

Tim Wellens has lifted the lid on just how close Tadej Pogacar came to abandoning the 2025 Tour de France — revealing the world champion required an emergency hospital scan mid-race due to a serious knee scare.

The Slovenian went on to ride into Paris in yellow for a fourth time, but the Belgian has now made clear how precarious the situation was during the second week.

During the stage to Valence, Wellens recalled Pogacar suddenly sounding the alarm. “During the stage towards Valence he told me: ‘Tim, we have a problem, my knee is hurting a lot’,” Wellens told L’Equipe. “He was in so much pain that he got out of the car to be examined by the doctor.”

With concerns mounting inside UAE Team Emirates - XRG’s car, the team wasted no time in seeking answers. “After the stage, he went to hospital for scans,” Wellens continued. “They found inflammation or something like that, but nobody knew what it was. He was genuinely suffering and we were not sure he would make it to the finish. We even thought he might have to abandon.”

Pogacar’s relatively defensive racing in the middle portion of the Tour raised eyebrows at the time, but Wellens says there was a very real physical battle happening behind the scenes.

“You could see his body was not right — he was swollen, he had put on weight,” Wellens explained. “Seeing him arrive in Paris was a huge relief. Everybody was asking why he was not attacking, but now it makes sense. We were worried about him physically, but mentally he stayed strong.”

Wellens also lifted the curtain on the constant attention the world champion faces — even when nature calls.

“He has become a huge star,” he said. “If he has to stop to go to the toilet during a race, he hides because people immediately rush to take photos. You do not realise it, but he feels that 24 hours a day. Sometimes I see he has had enough, but he manages it very well.”

Despite the pressure and physical strain, Wellens remains confident that Pogacar is still fuelled by joy and love for the sport, rather than obligation. “I think Tadej will keep racing for a long time because he really loves what he does.”