“We didn’t really like that in the team” – Tadej Pogacar reveals ‘Pantani’ nickname for Tour de France rival he had to stare down
CyclingMonday, 03 August 2026 at 14:30
Tadej Pogacar has revealed that Nicolas Prodhomme was known as “Pantani” inside UAE Team Emirates – XRG before the pair’s viral exchange on the penultimate stage of the Tour de France.
The Frenchman had repeatedly accelerated at the foot of climbs while working for Paul Seixas, producing the same sharp burst once more on the Col de Sarenne. Pogacar rode alongside him and stared across for several seconds, creating one of the most widely shared images from the Tour’s final weekend.
“We’d been joking about it in the team before, calling him ‘Pantani’, because he always found the strength for the final sprint,” Pogacar said on the Val 202 podcast. “He’d always accelerate, stretching out the group for those first 500 metres of the climb. We didn’t really like that in the team.”
Pogacar wanted help after long spell in the wind
The exchange came during a rare afternoon spent working for somebody else. With his fifth Tour victory all but secured, Pogacar rode in support of Isaac del Toro as the Mexican tried to defend third place and the white jersey against Seixas. Prodhomme was one of Decathlon CMA CGM’s key mountain riders and had no interest in helping UAE protect its position.
Pogacar had already driven the pace over the Col du Galibier and continued working through the descent and valley. By the time the race reached the Sarenne, he had hoped one of the two Decathlon riders could contribute.
“At that moment, I was already pulling the rope into the barrel,” Pogacar said. “Because the wind was blowing in my face, it wasn’t exactly easy either. I tried once or twice to get him to let me have at least one turn, so I could catch my breath a bit and then carry on. But no, he didn’t give me a single turn. They had another one with them as well, so there were two of them from Decathlon who could at least have helped me a bit.”
Decathlon’s refusal was entirely logical while Seixas remained locked in a direct battle with Del Toro. Pogacar understood the tactics, even as the accumulated effort began to tell.
“I get it, that’s cycling for you,” he said. “There’s no one there who should have helped me any more. But because you’re there in the moment, because I’d already been in the red zone for a bit, I hit a wall.”
Pogacar settled back into his own tempo with Del Toro still protected in the group. “I said, ‘OK, I’ll keep up my pace to the top.’ Everything was under control. Isaac was still in the white zone, even if we all got there together. That was my first goal. Then he came along.”
Prodhomme surged, stretched the group and drew the stare that soon spread across social media. “I caught up with him and looked at him,” Pogacar recalled. “‘Take it easy. What are you up to? Take it easy.’”
An incredible scene: Tadej Pogacar stares down Nicolas Prodhomme, who had briefly taken the lead.#TDF2026 pic.twitter.com/RQIFfJkr67
— René Bugner (@RNBWCV) July 25, 2026
“One of the best riders in the Tour”
Neither rider regarded the moment as a serious confrontation. Prodhomme suggested Pogacar had simply been surprised by his acceleration, while the yellow jersey followed his own explanation with emphatic praise.
“I don’t want to say anything against him, because he was outstanding,” Pogacar said. “That Tour was tough, and he was truly outstanding. He was one of the best riders in the Tour who hasn’t got the recognition he deserves.”
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Prodhomme’s work helped Seixas remain in the podium fight until the final mountain stage, with the French teenager eventually finishing fourth overall at only 19. Much of that support came before the television cameras focused on the leading contenders, although his accelerations had clearly been noticed inside UAE.
“What he did for the team was truly phenomenal,” Pogacar added. “A truly top-class cyclist. I hope the people at Decathlon saw just how much he did for the team. All credit to him.”
The stare suggested irritation on the Sarenne. Pogacar’s fuller account revealed a running UAE joke, a tired yellow jersey asking for one turn in the wind and considerable respect for the rider who refused to give it.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- I see both sides of the argument however it is job at the end of the day. The sponsor pays your wages to perform and win at the highest level. If Vin has an issue he should speak to team management. Almost like politician when they have to use a spokesman or woman to reply. The sport has moved on and is probably at the highest level with riders for a decade. If Vin wants to retire which his wife appears to be pushing him down that road be will be a loss.paultryan200203-08-2026
- Cue for a combined groan from all the other pro tour teams.Cyclingsbestfan03-08-2026
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