VIDEO: Tadej Pogacar takes Coll de Rates KOM; fan captures full UAE leadout for World Champion who climbs at 31Km/h for 12 minutes

Cycling
Sunday, 22 December 2024 at 09:31
tadejpogacarcollderates2

Having fun is essential for pro riders, in what is an extremely demanding job. Whilst Tadej Pogacar will not race for another two months, he has tested his form today in the final day of his training camp and took home the KOM at the Coll de Rates - whilst an amateur rider captured UAE Team Emirates doing an all-out leadout for him up the climb.

The climb is 6.5 kilometers long at 5.5%, hardly comparable to the mountains where the Slovenian has won his most grandious races in pro cycling, but one that is made extremely famous for being the main ascent in the Calpe area where dozens of teams train in and test their form during their off-season training camps. Over the years, all kinds of riders have put their biggest efforts on this ascent during the winter.

Screenshot captures Pogacar at the back of an all-out leadout train on the Coll de Rates. @Alexander Depoorter
Screenshot captures Pogacar at the back of an all-out leadout train on the Coll de Rates. @Alexander Depoorter

Last year young Danish rider Peter Oxenberg put in a storming time up the climb, taking the KOM which attracted the attention of none other than INEOS Grenadiers who was quick to sign him. He had averaged 454 watts and 30.5Km/h up the climb, also having a leadout from teammates.

Now Pogacar took up the challenge and on his final day, he rode from Benidorm to Valencia where he is taking the flight back home from Spain. 200 kilometers, and it included the ascent in which he's taken his most recent KOM, a worrying sign for his rivals that he seems to be climbing just as well as throughout the whole 2024 season.

The Slovenian will make his debut at the UAE Tour in late February where he will aim for the overall win, before a spring where he will only race one-day races afterwards. Most likely, Pogacar will race the Tour de France and Vuelta a España in 2025, with the World Championships also being a very important goal as the course suits another rainbow jersey attempt.

Current Strava times on Coll de Rates 
Current Strava times on Coll de Rates 
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2 Comments
Mistermaumau 30 January 2025 at 16:40+ 3207

I actually don’t find that too impressive. In my later forties I did similar figures for a 3.5% gradient as a total nobody with no wind assistance. Am sure there’s margin for improvement there, especially looking at all the names on that list.

spock123 22 December 2024 at 10:19+ 6

Jonas', was 6 years ago

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