Pogacar’s Perfect Prep Pays Off: A Masterclass Performance at the Tour de France
The Tour de France is a race that transcends sport, embodying the highest peaks of human endurance, strategic brilliance, and sheer willpower. To win this race is to etch your name into the annals of cycling history, joining an elite group of athletes whose legacies are defined by the yellow jersey. In 2024, Tadej Pogačar, the young Slovenian sensation, delivered a masterclass performance that solidified his place as one of the greatest cyclists of his generation. His victory was not just a result of raw talent, but the culmination of meticulous preparation, intelligent racecraft, and a deep understanding of what it takes to conquer the Tour de France.
After a stellar 2023 season that saw Pogačar secure multiple wins but miss out on the Tour de France title, the Slovenian star and his UAE Team Emirates squad knew that 2024 had to be different. The stakes were higher, the competition fiercer, and the expectations monumental. To reclaim the yellow jersey, Pogačar would need to approach the season with a level of preparation and focus that surpassed anything he had done before.
Pogačar’s 2024 campaign was marked by a calculated approach to racing. Unlike previous years, where he participated in numerous events across the calendar, Pogačar and his team carefully selected races that would optimize his form and fitness for the Tour. Early in the season, he skipped some of the traditional early-season races, focusing instead on high-altitude training camps designed to build his endurance and power for the grueling demands of the Tour de France.
One of the key aspects of Pogačar’s preparation was his training in the Sierra Nevada mountains in Spain. This high-altitude region provided the perfect environment for Pogačar to hone his climbing skills and build the endurance necessary for the Tour’s demanding mountain stages. The time spent at altitude also helped him adapt to the reduced oxygen levels, a crucial factor in maintaining performance over three weeks of racing.
Pogačar’s preparation also included targeted appearances in key races like the Critérium du Dauphiné and the Tour of Slovenia. These races served as both fitness tests and opportunities to fine-tune his form. In these events, Pogačar showed glimpses of his Tour de France readiness, demonstrating his climbing prowess and time-trialing skills. His victories and strong performances in these lead-up races not only boosted his confidence but also sent a clear message to his rivals: Pogačar was coming to the Tour in peak condition.
The 2024 Tour de France began with a series of stages that tested the riders’ versatility, including flat stages, punchy uphill finishes, and a team time trial. From the outset, Pogačar and UAE Team Emirates asserted themselves as the team to beat. The opening week saw Pogačar riding near the front, avoiding the crashes and chaos that often define the first few days of the Tour.
In the early stages, Pogačar demonstrated his all-around abilities, staying close to the leaders on the flat stages while saving energy for the more decisive days ahead. His positioning was impeccable, always staying out of trouble and remaining vigilant against the ever-present threat of crosswinds. This early phase of the race set the tone for what was to come: a demonstration of how to win the Tour by minimizing risks and conserving energy.
One of the key moments in the first week was the team time trial. UAE Team Emirates delivered a stellar performance, finishing near the top of the rankings and ensuring that Pogačar was well-placed in the general classification. This result was a testament to the team’s strength and cohesion, which would prove critical in the high mountains.
As the race entered the second week, the peloton faced the daunting task of tackling the Pyrenees and later the Alps. These mountain stages were where Pogačar planned to make his mark and gain a decisive advantage over his rivals. The climbing stages of the Tour de France are where the general classification is often won or lost, and Pogačar knew this was his territory.
The first major mountain test came on Stage 9, with a brutal finish at the Col du Tourmalet. This stage was anticipated to be a battleground for the overall contenders, and it did not disappoint. Pogačar, showing his characteristic calmness and tactical acumen, bided his time as other riders tried to attack. When the moment was right, Pogačar unleashed a powerful acceleration that only a select few could follow. He then launched a second, decisive attack near the summit, distancing himself from all but one or two rivals and taking significant time out of the rest of the field.
Pogačar’s ability to measure his efforts perfectly on these climbs was a key part of his success. Unlike some of his competitors who attacked early and faded, Pogačar knew exactly when to make his move. His superior power-to-weight ratio, honed through months of preparation at altitude, allowed him to sustain a high pace on the steepest gradients. This performance on the Tourmalet sent a clear signal that Pogačar was in a class of his own.
The following days in the mountains saw Pogačar continue to build on his lead. In the Alps, he took another impressive stage win on the legendary Alpe d’Huez. Here, Pogačar not only outclimbed his rivals but also showcased his descending skills, which were crucial in the technical descents leading to the final climb. His performance was a masterclass in stage-racing tactics: attacking at the right moment, managing his efforts, and using every opportunity to gain ti
While Pogačar is known for his climbing, his time-trialing abilities have also been a critical component of his Grand Tour success. The 2024 Tour de France featured two individual time trials, both of which were crucial in shaping the general classification. Pogačar, aware of the importance of these stages, approached them with the same meticulous preparation that defined his entire campaign.
The first time trial, a flat and fast 33-kilometer course, was an opportunity for Pogačar to assert his dominance. Wearing the Slovenian national time trial champion’s jersey, Pogačar delivered a performance that left his competitors in the dust. He took time out of all his main rivals, further solidifying his lead in the general classification. What was most impressive was not just his raw speed but the precision with which he executed his race plan—pacing himself perfectly to maximize his power output over the entire distance.
The second time trial, held in the final week of the Tour, was a more technical affair, featuring several rolling hills and tricky descents. By this point in the race, fatigue was setting in for many riders, but Pogačar showed no signs of slowing down. Once again, he produced a near-flawless ride, consolidating his overall lead and setting himself up for a triumphant ride into Paris.
As the Tour entered its final week, Pogačar found himself in the coveted yellow jersey, with a significant lead over his nearest rivals. However, the Tour de France is never over until the riders cross the finish line on the Champs-Élysées, and Pogačar and his team knew they could not afford to relax.
The final mountain stages in the Alps and the Jura were fraught with danger, as Pogačar’s rivals launched desperate attacks in a bid to claw back time. However, Pogačar, with the full support of UAE Team Emirates, managed to neutralize these threats. His teammates, including the ever-reliable João Almeida and Marc Soler, rode tirelessly to protect their leader, ensuring that Pogačar was never isolated and always had the support he needed in the crucial moments.
One of the defining moments of the final week came on Stage 18, a brutal day in the Alps that included the Col de la Loze, one of the toughest climbs in the Tour. Pogačar, aware that his lead was solid but not insurmountable, rode conservatively, allowing others to attack but never losing control of the situation. When the time came, he responded to the moves of his closest rivals, ensuring that they gained no meaningful time on him. It was a display of maturity and tactical intelligence that belied his years.
The final stage of the Tour de France, the ceremonial ride into Paris, is always a special moment for the race leader. For Pogačar, it was a chance to savor the fruits of his labor and celebrate with his teammates after three grueling weeks of racing. The sight of Pogačar, dressed in the yellow jersey, riding down the Champs-Élysées with the Arc de Triomphe in the background, was a fitting end to a Tour that had been dominated by his brilliance.
As he crossed the finish line in Paris, Pogačar could reflect on a race that had gone almost perfectly according to plan. His preparation, race strategy, and execution had all been exemplary, leading to a victory that was as much about his mental strength and tactical acumen as it was about his physical abilities.
Tadej Pogačar’s victory in the 2024 Tour de France is more than just another win in his already illustrious career—it is a statement of his continued dominance in the sport and his ability to evolve as a rider. At just 25 years old, Pogačar has now
