Nils Politt recently appeared on the *Schlag & Fertig* podcast, where he shared intriguing insights about Tadej Pogačar and UAE Team Emirates’ experience at the Tour de France. While many of his remarks were enlightening, some revealed a more controversial aspect of the team dynamic, including the existence of a “blacklist”—a list of riders who are not considered friends of the team.
“Tadej and Remco like each other, both on and off the bike. They are friends, which isn’t the case with Vingegaard. Tadej and Jonas respect each other but don’t necessarily like each other,” Politt remarked during the podcast. “In the peloton, you have friends and riders you’re not so fond of. On our team bus, there’s also a list of riders who are friends and a blacklist. You don’t want to be on that list.” While this doesn’t fully explain some of UAE’s tactics during the Tour, it hints at the possibility that personal relationships could influence strategic decisions, including the pursuit of breakaways.
Reflecting on the Tour de France, Politt shared his thoughts on how the race unfolded, particularly in terms of UAE Team Emirates’ approach. Riders from other teams frequently expressed frustration over the limited opportunities to contest stage victories, largely due to the control exerted by UAE and Pogačar’s dominance. The Slovenian superstar ended the Tour with six stage wins, having claimed both summit finishes in the Pyrenees. After these victories, the team’s hunger for more stage wins seemed to diminish slightly.
Politt revealed an interesting moment before Stage 20, where there was an attempt to allow other riders some freedom. “We had prepared for that stage very intensively. The team wanted to win there, but Tadej said in the morning on the bus: ‘We’ve already won four stages. If we win this one too, they’re going to get angry with us.'” Despite this sentiment, the breakaway was eventually reeled in, and a battle among the general classification contenders ensued on the final climb. Jonas Vingegaard launched a fierce attack, but Pogačar was not about to give the Dane any gifts. “I told him that if you can win a stage, you should just do it. Tadej hesitated, so we sent Marc Soler ahead. But Evenepoel’s team closed it down. I genuinely think Tadej would have let him win if they had been ahead together, but there’s no mercy for Vingegaard,” Politt explained.
Politt also discussed the challenge of strategizing with a rider like Pogačar, whose spontaneity and desire to push the limits often make it difficult to stick to a plan. “With Tadej, you can’t come up with a strategy. You devise a plan, but on the bike, he wants you to go even faster,” Politt said. “But you can’t go any faster. ‘Four minutes, give it everything you’ve got!’ But the others in your wheel still have to keep going, you know. Fortunately, I’ve also managed to slow him down a few times.” However, when it came to the Plateau de Beille, no one could slow Pogačar down. On that climb, he not only gained significant time on his rivals but also delivered power numbers that had never been seen before in professional cycling, according to estimates.
Politt reflected on Pogačar’s record-setting performance, comparing it to past legends. “That Tadej went minutes faster than Pantani, you can’t really compare that anymore. Our bikes are now 6.8 kilos; back then they were 9 kilos. All our equipment is tested to ensure it’s the fastest: helmets, socks, base layers… That wasn’t the case before,” Politt argued. He also emphasized the rigorous doping controls modern cyclists endure. “People don’t realize what we do for it and that what happened in the past is really no longer possible. We have to be available for doping checks literally all day long, and in the Tour, Tadej was tested every day and sometimes even twice a day. They would come into the bus before a stage, where he had to provide a sample. An intrusion into privacy. But the questions are part of it, and we know that too.”
Politt also commented on his former teammate Primož Roglič, who had to abandon the Tour de France once again due to a crash. Politt was not surprised by Roglič’s misfortune, noting the Slovenian’s history with crashes in the Tour. “He’s ridden the Tour six times and has crashed out three times. His crashes are, of course, widely covered, and there wasn’t much he could do about this one in the Tour. But there are crashes of his that make us all wonder what he’s doing. In that second week, 160 riders passed through that corner without any issues, and he crashes,” Politt said, highlighting the unpredictability and inherent dangers of the race.
In sharing these insights, Politt has offered a rare glimpse into the dynamics within the peloton, particularly around one of its biggest stars, Tadej Pogačar, and the inner workings of UAE Team Emirates. His comments also underscore the intense pressure and intricate rivalries that define the Tour de France, where friendships, rivalries, and split-second decisions can shape the outcome of the world’s most famous bike race.
