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Chris Froome passed some words of wisdom to fellow four-time Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar.
Sometimes, you just gotta say “no.”
Froome told Bici that Pogačar’s best way to avoid an early burnout would be to slow things down or switch things up.
“You learn you have to start saying ‘no’ to certain things or planning your season differently than before,” Froome told Bici when asked about the rare ennui that overcame Pogačar this summer.
Froome, who wasn’t selected by Israel Premier Tech for the recent Tour de France, was quizzed on all-things Pogačar at the recent Tour de Pologne.
“I didn’t pay much attention to the way Pogačar looked at the Tour de France, but I think it would be normal if he looked tired,” Froome said. “He’s been riding at a high level for years, and every year he’s asked for something more.
“In a way, I’ll see myself in that,” Froome continued.
“I remember that when I won the Tour de France, Vuelta a España, and Giro d’Italia between 2017 and 2018. I arrived in France tired and psychophysically burned out, despite still having good condition.”
Was Tadej Pogačar bored at the Tour de France?
Maybe so.
UAE team director explains what killed Pogi’s mojo as he closed down on his fourth Tour title:
‘Defense isn’t fun’https://t.co/iB1he8Ak9X
— Velo (@velovelovelo__) July 31, 2025
The world saw a new side of Pogačar last month at the Tour de France.
The super-Slovenian was drained of his typical perma-stoke in the final push through the Alps and even got existential after he pulled on his fourth maillot jaune.
“I’m already counting down the years to retirement,” Pogačar said last weekend, acknowledging his racing peak won’t rage on forever.
Froome urges Pogačar to seek ‘new stimuli’
Pogačar finished the 2025 Tour de France ‘bored’ and burned out. (Photo: Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)
Froome suggested Pogačar needed to play around with his calendar to keep things fresh.
The now-40-year-old did similar in 2017 after he rode “The Sky Train” to his fourth Tour title. He switched focus toward the Giro d’Italia, and won it the very next year.
“For me, the only way to stay focused after so many years was motivation,” Froome said. “Having new stimuli helps you keep sight of your goals.
“You shouldn’t push yourself too hard mentally,” he said. “It’s very demanding and makes everything more difficult.”
But picking and choosing isn’t so simple for Pogačar.
The beyond-the-sport superstar packs the biggest salary in pro cycling, and with another month until his 27th birthday, he’s still in his physiological prime.
UAE Emirates-XRG will send Pogačar to the Tour de France until he stops winning it, whether he likes it or not.
In turn, the Emirati super team allows its Mercxian star to maraud over the cobblestones of Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.
The northern monuments and a delayed return to the Vuelta a España will bribe Pogačar into an inevitable Tour de France title defense in 2026.
Froome acknowledges the end is nigh: ‘I don’t know if I’ll continue’
Froome won the Giro d’Italia for his first and only time after he claimed his fourth Tour title. (Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Froome’s Tour de France time has long gone, and he knows it.
The 40-year-old acknowledged his time in pro cycling may be drawing to a close.
He’s not made much of a case to IPT team owner Sylvan Adams that it’s worth investing another year into his long-spanning, multi-million contract.
“My contract is expiring and I don’t know if I’ll continue or not,” Froome told Bici.
“When I retire, as I’ve said before, I want to open a cycling school in Africa. I want to allow many young people to ride and pursue a career.”
Froome finished the Tour de Pologne this weekend 30 minutes back on overall winner Brandon McNulty.
There are no other races on his calendar, meaning he’s staring down the barrel of a third year without grand tour racing.
There’s no hope for Froome at a world championship swansong, either.
“I won’t be racing the world championships in Rwanda. It’s clear that I would have liked to be there, but it’s not a big problem because it doesn’t change my plans,” Froome said.
“My real goal is to develop a great project that I am convinced will bring interesting new riders.”