Tadej Pogacar's car won't be on Alpe d'Huez - But the Tour de France's leader reveals it was it 2022 much to his regret

Cycling
Wednesday, 22 July 2026 at 16:31
Tadej Pogacar at the 2026 Tour de France
The Alpe d'Huez is one of the big starts of the 2026 Tour de France. The Alps' most famous climb will host the finale of the final two mountain stages at this year's Grand Boucle; and Tadej Pogacar has a very interesting story from a previous ascent of the Tour where his own car ended up damaged.
This happened in 2022. The previous day, Jonas Vingegaard attacked on the Col du Granon to take the yellow jersey from the Slovenian. On the Alpe d'Huez, Pogacar looked to take it back from the Dane, with the two putting in a strong ascent.
On the crowd was his fiancée Urska Zigart. The one detail that was far from ideal was that the AG Insurance - Soudal rider had taken the couple's personal car to drive up to the mountain, and that was something that Pogacar reminisced on this Monday's rest day press conference.
“I’m kind of happy Urška is not coming up with my car, like last time in 2022. I remember how dirty the car was because all the people were touching it and shaking it," he joked in a light mood.
“So I’m kind of glad I don’t have my personal car up there, because I think it’s going to be crazy.”
Tadej Pogacar taking shaded shelter during the heatwave of the 2026 Tour de France
Tadej Pogacar at the 2026 Tour de France 

Pogacar looking forward to climb Alpe d'Huez once again

The climb, with its 13 kilometers in distance and 21 hairpins, is one of cycling's most iconic locations. This Friday on stage 19, the peloton will go up it in its totality. On stage 20, it will be only be the final kilometers, as the riders will previously climb the Col de Sarenne.
But competition-wise, the Slovenian will likely be the main favourite to win both stages, and should also tackled them in the yellow jersey.
“It’s going to be fantastic. I hope nothing goes wrong, It’s going to be a great end of the Tour,” he said in anticipation for the weekend's stages.
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