In fact, Poga\u010dar suffered his most problematic summer as he led the UAE Emirates-XRG mega-team to a record 97 season wins.<\/p>\n
The 27-year-old was slammed for being \u201carrogant,\u201d buffeted by burnout<\/a>, and battled a race-threatening injury as he closed down on his fourth Tour de France title.<\/p>\n Poga\u010dar\u2019s lieutenant Tim Wellens shared some juicy \u201cinside the bus\u201d revelations on Poga\u010dar\u2019s period of tumult in an interview with L\u2019Equipe<\/a> this week.<\/p>\n Also read: Rating Poga\u010dar seasons by everything but wins<\/a><\/p>\n Poga\u010dar nearly knocked out by knee injury The Belgian superdomestique revealed Poga\u010dar nearly didn\u2019t make it to Paris this year at the Tour de France.<\/p>\n The Slovenian\u2019s knee flared up so bad in week 3 that everyone inside \u201cTeam Pogi\u201d feared the worst.<\/p>\n \u201cOn the Valence stage [stage 17 \u2013 ed], Tadej told me, \u2018Tim, we have a problem, my knee is killing me.\u2019 So much so that he went all the way to the doctor\u2019s car to get checked out,\u201d Wellens told L\u2019Equipe.<\/p>\n \u201cHe went to the hospital after the race for tests, they found inflammation. He was in a lot of pain, we had doubts about his ability to finish. We even considered him abandoning the race,\u201d Wellens revealed Monday.<\/p>\n \u201cOn the team bus, we could see his body wasn\u2019t well, he was all fluid, he\u2019d gained weight. It was a relief that he didn\u2019t give up.\u201d<\/p>\n The world saw a new side of Poga\u010dar as he nursed his knee and braced against a resurgent Jonas Vingegaard.<\/p>\n It was a defensive, sullen, injured ride to a fourth Tour de France title that led to a storm of speculation. Accusations of boredom, arrogance, and ennui stalked the typically affable frontman of pro cycling.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone was wondering why he wasn\u2019t attacking, which was understandable,\u201d Wellens said, before suggesting the team was none-the-wiser of a deeper malaise.<\/p>\n \u201cAfterward, we were worried about him physically, but mentally, I was surprised to read that he was eager to get home,\u201d Wellens said. \u201cBecause, between us, we were really having a great time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018I might be fed up with Poga\u010dar\u2019s dominance, too\u2019 A nasty knee wasn\u2019t enough to stop Poga\u010dar punching his ticket to the \u201cfour time winner\u2019s club\u201d and moving closer to a historic fifth title at the Tour de France.<\/p>\n It was an unrelenting dominance that continued through a second world title in September and record-typing fifth win at Il Lombardia in October. As even Remco Evenepoel discovered<\/a>, was no stopping the Poga\u010dar Express.<\/p>\n Wellens was able to sympathise with Poga\u010dar\u2019s beleagered rivals.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I weren\u2019t on Tadej\u2019s team, I might be fed up [of his dominance], too,\u201d Wellens told L\u2019Equipe. \u201cBut I\u2019m around him and I see all the work he does. For me, he\u2019s the most professional on the team, along with Juan Ayuso.<\/p>\n \u201cFor example, one day we had just come back from Abu Dhabi. Everyone was tired, but he went straight into a training session in the heat.\u201d<\/p>\n Poga\u010dar\u2019s rout of the summer didn\u2019t only ruffle his rivals\u2019 feathers.<\/p>\n His sullen reluctance at the Tour de France, some copy-paste long-range raids, and an off-key \u201cdo not distub\u201d training jersey<\/a>\u00a0drew criticism across the social-sphere.<\/p>\n Poga\u010dar can\u2019t go to the toilet without being papped As one of Poga\u010dar\u2019s most trusted wingmen, Wellens followed Poga\u010dar through the season.<\/p>\n The 34-year-old revealed more on Poga\u010dar\u2019s luxury problem of superstardom.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s really become a big star. If he needs to take a bathroom break during a ride, he hides because as soon as he stops, people come up to take pictures,\u201d Wellens told L\u2019Equipe. \u201cWe don\u2019t realize it, but he feels it 24\/7.<\/p>\n \u201cHe handles it very well,\u201d Wellens continued. \u201cSometimes I see he\u2019s fed up, but at his level, that could happen much more often and much faster. He\u2019s very patient.\u201d<\/p>\n Wellens reassured that while Poga\u010dar finds celebrity exhausting, it\u2019s no existential threat.<\/p>\n \u201cI think Tadej will be racing for a long time because he truly loves what he does,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Criticism, burnout, arrogance, or none of the above, Poga\u010dar set the tone for Team UAE<\/a>, all year long.<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GettyImages-2226710917.jpg\"\/)
Poga\u010dar was physically and mentally knocked back by a knee injury in the final week of the Tour. (Photo: Jean Catuffe\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
\n![\"Poga\u010dar](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GettyImages-2224095451.jpg\"\/)
Wellens raced with Poga\u010dar through the classics, Tour de France, and into the fall. (Photo: LOIC VENANCE\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
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Poga\u010dar is in the spotlight everywhere he goes. (Photo: Gruber Images)<\/p>\n
![\"McNulty](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GettyImages-2234897097.jpg\"\/)
McNulty and Poga\u010dar underlined UAE Emirates-XRG\u2019s dominance when they went 1-2 in Montr\u00e9al. (Photo: Getty Images)<\/p>\n