Tadej Pogačar Admits Knee Injury Nearly Derailed His Tour de France Triumph
Tadej Pogačar has revealed that his dominant Tour de France campaign was nearly brought to a premature end due to a knee injury that left him questioning whether he could continue. The Slovenian superstar, who went on to claim his third yellow jersey in Paris, opened up about the mental and physical battle he faced during the race.
“I started to have doubts about continuing,” Pogačar confessed in a recent interview. “The pain in my knee was becoming unbearable, and every pedal stroke felt heavier. There were moments I thought it was over.”
The UAE Team Emirates leader, renowned for his attacking style and fearless racing, reportedly began feeling discomfort during the second week of the Tour. Despite medical treatment and careful management from his team’s physiotherapists, the pain persisted. However, his determination and resilience carried him through.
Teammates and staff were reportedly surprised by his ability to maintain such a high level of performance despite the injury. “He never complained, even when we could see he was suffering,” said UAE Team sports director Mauro Gianetti. “That’s the mark of a true champion.”
Pogačar’s honesty about his struggles adds a new layer to his already remarkable 2025 season, which included victories in Liège–Bastogne–Liège and the Giro d’Italia. His courage under adversity has only deepened fans’ admiration for him.
“I learned a lot from this Tour,” he added. “Sometimes, the biggest victories are not about power or speed, but about pushing through when everything hurts.”
As he now looks ahead to 2026, Pogačar’s revelation highlights just how fine the line can be between triumph and heartbreak — even for cycling’s most do
minant rider.
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