Imagine a young cyclist bursting onto the scene with effortless victories, endless joy, and zero setbacks – that's the electrifying tale of Tadej Pogačar's unstoppable rise in 2018, straight from the pages of Andy McGrath's new book, Tadej Pogačar: Unstoppable. But here's where it gets interesting: was this carefree attitude the secret sauce behind his success, or could it have been a risky gamble that paid off? Available now for purchase (https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=78475&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.co.uk%2FTadej-Pogacar-Unstoppable-Andy-McGrath%2Fdp%2F1399426540%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-21%26ascsubtag%3Dcyclingnews-us-2468512868208820245-21), this excerpt dives into Chapter 5: Breakaway, exploring the pivotal summer of 2018 that culminated in his triumph at the Tour de l'Avenir (https://www.cyclingnews.com/tour-de-l-avenir/).
That unforgettable season kicked off with Pogačar's (https://www.cyclingnews.com/riders/tadej-pogacar/) spectacular victory in June's under-23 Peace Race, a key event in the UCI Nations Cup – the top international series for young riders. In a daring final-day assault, he launched an attack over two challenging climbs and a grueling 35 km stretch, battling torrential rain all the way to the finish in Jesenik, Czech Republic. This bold move catapulted him from sixth place to the overall lead, leaving the Swiss and British teams scrambling in vain to close the gap. Even years later, after claiming his maiden Tour de France title (https://www.cyclingnews.com/tour-de-france/), Pogačar reminisced about that rainy ride as his ultimate memory of aggressive, offensive cycling.
Building on that momentum, Pogačar and his Ljubljana Gusto Xaurum team achieved remarkable success at the Tour of Slovenia (https://www.cyclingnews.com/tour-of-slovenia/). Teammate Ben Hill secured bonus seconds from breakaways in the first two stages, earning him the green jersey as the race leader. 'I was at the front of the tour, yet some guys still wouldn't give me a turn at the front,' Hill recalled, highlighting the lack of respect he faced. 'But Pogačar? He didn't mind; he'd hang back in 50th place, casually advancing when needed. As soon as the road tilted uphill, he simply rode past everyone.' Pogačar secured a solid fourth-place finish, bolstered by his strong performance in the time trial, while Primož Roglič (https://www.cyclingnews.com/riders/primoz-roglic/) comfortably took the overall win.
And this is the part most people miss – Pogačar's laid-back, fun-loving personality shone brightly during this period. 'I was cozy in bed one evening when Pogačar burst in at 10:30 PM, distributing pizza sticks,' Hill shared with a chuckle. 'He exclaimed, "This town is famous for its pizza sticks – you've got to try them!" I replied, "Dude, we've got a big race tomorrow; what's the deal?" He was utterly chill about it... life just flowed easily for him. Win races, have fun, no problems.'
Despite consistently placing in the top 10 that year, Pogačar remained dedicated to supporting his teammates, never shirking his responsibilities. 'On stage 1 of the Giro della Regione Friuli-Venezia Giulia, about 20 of us were sprinting toward the finish, and he chased down every single attack for the final 20 km just because he said, "Ben, you're a sprinter; you can take this win,"' Hill explained. 'He went all out assisting me, positioning me for the lead-out, even though he was poised to clinch the entire tour with its tough mountain stage. He was genuinely thrilled to sacrifice for someone else's opportunity.' Pogačar expertly delivered Hill to the front, but tragically, Hill's rear wheel slipped out, causing a crash.
After Pogačar went on to claim the overall victory a few days later, the team returned the equipment to headquarters and headed to Ljubljana for a celebration at a local pizzeria. 'They were sipping Long Island iced teas that evening,' Hill laughed. 'And yes, he joined in. Not sure if it was his usual thing, but it felt like a proper end-of-season bash.'
Pogačar wasn't entirely deprived of youthful adventures in the name of sport. He attended a handful of parties, and after workouts, he and his buddies would sometimes grab a beer or two at Bar Julija in Domžale. Mostly, though, he stayed focused on his dream of reaching the WorldTour level, avoiding distractions. 'At times, I felt like cycling was robbing me of all the excitement,' Pogačar admitted in a 2019 interview with Siol. 'But ultimately, it's rewarding to invest so much in something you adore. Cycling has granted me an extraordinary life. Without the bike and my cycling companions, I'd probably just be bored.'
While there was some natural divide between Slovenian riders and foreigners on the Ljubljana Gusto Xaurum squad, Hill and fellow Brit Tim Guy found Pogačar exceptionally approachable. 'Away from the bike, he never came across as this intensely determined, self-centered competitor,' Guy noted. 'That wasn't his aura at all. I recall conducting some team interviews with him, and it was all laughter and ease.' During a go-karting outing for Guy's 29th birthday, Pogačar proved to be one of the top performers, demonstrating his knack for calculated risks and precise racing lines – skills that clearly translated to cycling.
Guy believes Pogačar's current superstar status can be attributed in part to the innovative 'gamification' approach by coach K.D. Rog, which encouraged playful experimentation over rigid routines. 'You might try to turn someone into a mindless machine, but that's not what you want – especially when you need them pulling off crazy maneuvers with 80 km left,' Guy explained. 'It's easy to drill the creativity out of someone... but you could sense his unique personality, and it appears to have endured.'
Tadej Pogačar: Unstoppable by Andy McGrath (Bloomsbury Sport) is available to buy now (https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=78475&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.co.uk%2FTadej-Pogacar-Unstoppable-Andy-McGrath%2Fdp%2F1399426540%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-21%26ascsubtag%3Dcyclingnews-us-6150422648868340183-21).
What do you think? Was Pogačar's carefree attitude in his early days a brilliant strategy that fueled his dominance, or did it risk derailing his career? And is 'gamifying' training the future of sports development, or could it lead to undisciplined athletes? Share your thoughts in the comments – I'd love to hear your take!
