Does Tadej Pogačar have something to prove at this year’s Critérium du Dauphiné? Absolutely not.
Does he want to win it? Without a doubt and for several good reasons.
Following a stinging tactical defeat in the final week of the Giro d’Italia on the Colle delle Finestre, Pogačar and UAE Team Emirates-XRG are looking to rebuild their momentum as they approach July, determined to reassert their dominance in the peloton.
Pogačar and his star-studded UAE team arrive at the Dauphiné not only to sharpen their form for the Tour de France but also to send a strong message to their rivals.
“We’ve just finished a great block of altitude training with the team, and I’m feeling strong,” Pogačar said Friday. “The legs are good, and the motivation is there.”
In Pogačar’s language, that’s code for: he’s ready to blow the race apart.
The Dauphiné: Still on Pogačar’s Bucket List
Believe it or not, there are still races Pogačar has started but hasn’t conquered.
The Critérium du Dauphiné like the Vuelta a España is one of them.
He finished fourth in his only appearance in 2020, and he’ll be aiming to improve on that as the race winds through the French mountains this week.
“It’s been a few years since I last raced the Dauphiné, and we’re excited to be back after weeks of training together,” he said. “The team spirit is great, and we’re ready to get back to racing and show what we’re capable of.”
Pogačar’s only previous start in the Dauphiné came during the shortened 2020 season, just weeks before he shocked Primož Roglič in the final time trial of the Tour de France to win his first yellow jersey.
That year, he was edged out by Daniel Martínez, Thibaut Pinot, and Guillaume Martin.
First GC Showdown of 2025
This week also marks the season’s first head-to-head clash between the peloton’s “big three” general classification contenders:
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) returns after a long recovery from his Paris-Nice crash.
Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) aims to rediscover top form after his disrupted spring due to a winter crash.
Tadej Pogačar, coming in fresh and dangerous after dominating the spring classics, including a devastating win at Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
After a short break and a training stint in Sierra Nevada, Pogačar is using the Dauphiné as a final prep race for his Tour title defense and to reassert his authority in the GC hierarchy.
Following the Giro loss, UAE is also keen to reclaim the narrative.
With Visma riding high from their Giro success and Quick-Step eager to prove they can support Evenepoel, sparks are guaranteed.
Is Pogačar looking to remind everyone who’s boss? No question.
UAE’s Tour Core on Display
With Pogačar leading the charge, the team racing the Dauphiné looks a lot like UAE’s Tour de France lineup.
Veterans Pavel Sivakov, Nils Politt, Tim Wellens, and Marc Soler all Tour-tested are joining Pogačar this week.
New addition Jhonatan Narváez and Slovenian teammate Domen Novak round out the Dauphiné roster and are also strong Tour contenders.
While the final Tour de France roster hasn’t been announced, João Almeida and Mikkel Bjerg both likely Tour picks will be racing the Tour de Suisse later in June.
UAE for Critérium du Dauphiné
Jhonatan Narváez (Ecu)
Domen Novak (Slo)
Tadej Pogačar (Slo)
Nils Politt (Ger)
Pavel Sivakov (Fra)
Marc Soler (Spa)
Tim Wellens (Bel)
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