Tadej Pogačar’s team sports manager, Joxean Fernández Matxin, has explained why the Slovenian adopted a defensive strategy in the final week of the Tour de France, saying it was neither enjoyable for him nor for the fans. Known for his aggressive racing style, Pogačar took a more cautious approach in the last mountain stages, focusing on preserving his four-minute lead over Jonas Vingegaard and securing his fourth yellow jersey.
Matxin said the shift went against Pogačar’s natural instincts. “He thrives on being competitive, but we had to defend and wait for attacks instead of initiating them. That kind of riding isn’t exciting for him or the audience,” he told AS in a post-Tour interview. “We’re used to attacking from 80 or 50 kilometers out. Now anything that involves waiting feels dull, because these same riders have conditioned us to expect constant action.”
Maintaining Pogačar’s motivation is critical, according to UAE’s Head of Performance, Jeroen Swart, who recently said the biggest challenge is keeping him mentally engaged. “He’s at his peak, and it’s not about age anymore it’s about motivation,” Swart told L’Équipe. “Tadej loves new challenges, whether it’s trying Paris-Roubaix or going for Milan-San Remo. The Tour is like a puzzle, but it’s familiar. That’s why he did the Giro, and now he’s eyeing Roubaix to keep pushing himself.”
Pogačar echoed this sentiment, telling L’Équipe that setting fresh goals keeps him motivated. After finishing second in his debut at Paris-Roubaix, he’s eager to return and win it. “This race was crazy. Second place was amazing, but I want to come back and win.”
Matxin agrees that diversifying Pogačar’s race calendar is key to sustaining his drive. “After Catalunya, we looked to the Classics to challenge ourselves differently,” he explained. “Flanders is more exciting, it’s about positioning and timing, not just waiting for someone to attack, like in La Plagne. That stage felt flat, but when you’re in the leader’s jersey, it’s not your job to attack.”
Despite these challenges, Matxin praised Pogačar as “cycling perfection” and said he’s the best talent he’s ever seen. He believes the Slovenian still has untapped potential. “Yes, there’s room for improvement. Based on our feedback from him and his coach Javier Sola, plus the nutritionist, we can see he’s still progressing and he’s motivated to keep improving.”
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