Young Belgian rider tried to follow Tadej Pogacar during his Coll de Rates KOM raid: "His sports directors gave me a pat on the back afterwards"

A 17-year-old promising Belgian cyclist Quinten Muys has stories to tell to his friends. While riding up the Coll de Rates with few teammates, the rider of Crabbé-Dstny (U19 team linked with Lotto Dstny) suddenly saw a certain Tadej Pogacar whizz past during training in Spain. The cycling phenomenon had set his sights on the KOM of the notorious climb. Muys switched up the gears and gave his best to hang on to the Slovenian's wheel for next two kilometers.

Last weekend, the Slovenian set an astonishing time on the Coll de Rates in the Spanish Calpe. With an impressive average of more than 31 kilometers per hour, Pogacar pulverized the previous best time of the Dane Peter Øxenberg by no less than 12 seconds. It earned the multiple Grand Tour champion a KOM (King of the Mountain) title on Strava.

Images of Pogacar being carried up the mountain by an impressive UAE train also circulated on social media. Another person who was able to witness Pogacar's record-breaking race from very close by was 17-year-old Belgian Quinten Muys. The rider of the youth team Crabbé-Dstny was also riding up the Coll de Rates at the time in question. Together with cycling friends Jenthe Verstraete and Nicholas Birkholm.

"In the first bend we saw someone from UAE standing with a stopwatch," are Muys' words collected by Sporza. "That's when we knew something special was going to happen. At 2.5 kilometers from the top we suddenly heard a car honking, urging us to move aside. Then Pogacar flew past us." A unique moment that Muys and co did not let pass by unnoticed.

"We jumped behind him and I was even able to get my phone out to film. Afterwards I was able to stay in Pogacar's wheel for another 2 kilometers. I was pushing about 480 to 490 watts. In the last corner I had to let go when he pulled through on the steep section. (beams) His sports directors gave me a pat on the back afterwards."

Muys, who himself rode to the top in 20 minutes and 50 seconds, surprised himself by being able to follow Pogacar for so long. "I like uphill races, but I had only been cycling again for a week after an illness. Without that break I might have been able to follow him to the top. Well, it was an unforgettable experience anyway. Really cool. We were hoping to meet Pogacar before our vacation. At first we were disappointed when we met the whole team without him. And then you're suddenly on his wheel. Something like that stays with you."