Tadej Pogačar took a brief break from his high-altitude training for the Tour de France to attend the Monaco Grand Prix as a VIP guest. His current form is reportedly so strong that he could afford to pause his preparations ahead of what’s expected to be a demanding summer of racing. During his visit, he supported rising F1 star Ollie Bearman and even experienced a hot lap around the iconic Monaco circuit, where he resides when not racing.
“What a wild weekend,” Pogačar wrote on Instagram, sharing photos alongside Bearman and his partner, Urška Žigart. “Now back to altitude camp, not far from Barcelona.” He’s set to face off against key rival Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) at the Critérium du Dauphiné, which starts on June 8. Another altitude stint will follow before he aims for a fourth Tour de France title, beginning July 5 in Lille.
His team, UAE Team Emirates-XRG, is fully supportive of his short break, confident in his form and mental focus.
“He’s showing great numbers, excellent condition, and is both relaxed and motivated,” said UAE’s sports manager Joxean Matxin during the Giro d’Italia. “Tadej trained at altitude in Sierra Nevada and then returned to Monaco.”
“Next, he’ll race the Dauphiné, head back to altitude training in France, and do reconnaissance rides for the Tour before heading straight to the Grand Départ.”
While Pogačar took his brief detour, his teammates remained at the Sierra Nevada camp. The final Tour de France squad has yet to be confirmed, but the long list includes riders like Adam Yates (currently racing the Giro), João Almeida, Tim Wellens, Domen Novak, Jonatan Narvaez, Marc Soler, Pavel Sivakov, and Nils Politt alongside Pogačar himself.
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