There seems to be no end in sight to Tadej Pogacar's cycling dominance for now. The Slovenian dominates the sport like never before, but how long can he keep this up? Axel Merckx and Johan Museeuw are particularly concerned about mental fatigue, but UAE Emirates XRG – Pogacar's team – certainly takes this into account.
Het Laatste Nieuws spoke on UAE Emirates XRG’s media day with Jeroen Swart (Head of Performance) and Javier Sola (Pogacar’s coach) about a factor not to be underestimated: mental fatigue. "That’s something no rider is immune to. Not even Tadej," says Sola. "His status brings enormous pressure and obligations that he has to learn to manage."
New challenges
"We help by keeping his schedule from becoming overloaded, occasionally introducing new challenges, and above all creating the calmest and most relaxed environment and family atmosphere around him. A setting where he feels good about himself. A happy rider is a rider who performs."
Swart adds: "From a biological perspective – more than age – motivation and the drive to keep putting in the work and maintain that level play a key role. And the resilience to keep excessive temptations at bay, which could impact mental energy and focus on goals. Exactly how long he can sustain that remains to be seen."
Pogacar during one of his long solo attacks – photo: Fotopersburo Cor Vos
'Managing' his monster solo efforts
How do Swart and Sola view the many spectacular but above all energy-sapping solo efforts of the reigning world champion? Isn’t Pogacar risking overexertion on his body? "If you have multiple targets in a season like he does, that’s certainly a concern,” Swart admits. "Recovery from such a massive effort takes time, and stacking them should basically be avoided."
"But… it’s part of his style. He likes it, enjoys putting in long, hard hours in the race, just like in training. That’s also why people adore him so much. I’m afraid Javier and I won’t be able to change that anytime soon. Our job is to ensure the sustainability of those solo efforts."
How does this work in practice? "By, within the complex mix of factors targeting the athlete’s metabolic profile, tailoring his training towards endurance at very high intensity. Without going into lactic acid buildup too quickly. And by providing him with the right nutritional ‘fuel’ so those solos carry as far as possible," laughs the sports physiologist. "Preferably all the way to the finish line, of course."
