#318 ‒ Cycling phenom and Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar reveals his training strategies, on-bike nutrition, and future aspirations
Sep 23, 2024
auto_awesome
Tadej Pogačar, a three-time Tour de France champion, shares his extraordinary journey through competitive cycling. He discusses his triumphant 2020 Tour victory and the challenges he faced in 2022 and 2023. Listeners learn about his rigorous training strategies, including simulating steep climbs and tracking key metrics like heart rate and power. Tadej also reveals his on-bike nutrition tactics, emphasizing optimal carbohydrate intake for performance. With aspirations for future races, he offers insights into the mental resilience needed to stay at the top.
Tadej Pogačar attributes his unprecedented cycling success to a combination of tailored training regimens and meticulous nutritional strategies designed for peak performance.
The importance of teamwork in cycling is underscored by Pogačar, emphasizing how collaboration and support among teammates significantly contribute to individual victories.
Deep dives
Tade Pogacar's Unprecedented Achievements
Tade Pogacar has rapidly established himself as one of the most exceptional cyclists in the sport's history. By winning the Tour de France consecutively in 2020, 2021, and 2024, Pogacar has rewritten the record books, achieving feats once deemed impossible in modern cycling. His ability to compete successfully across different race formats—grand tours, stage races, and one-day classics—demonstrates his versatility, as he became the first to claim both the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France in the same year after nearly three decades. Additionally, Pogacar is eyeing the elusive Triple Crown, aiming to add a World Championship title to his growing list of accolades.
Transformative Training and Nutrition Strategies
The podcast discusses how nutritional advancements and tailored training regimens have allowed cyclists like Pogacar to perform at unprecedented levels. Training has evolved to include not only significant on-bike efforts but also off-bike strength exercises that enhance core training and overall resilience. Increased emphasis on nutrition is crucial, as cyclists now focus on calorie intake and the balance of carbohydrates and proteins to sustain their intense performance needs. Pogacar reveals that he meticulously tracks his power output and heart rate, illustrating the scientific approach to modern cycling training.
The Mental and Physical Demands of Cycling
Pogacar shares insights into the psychological and physical rigors of being a professional cyclist, particularly during high-stakes races like the Tour de France. He acknowledges the pressure that accompanies such prestigious events, revealing that maintaining a positive mindset, especially during challenging races, is vital for performance. He discusses how managing fatigue and stress from previous races influences his training and overall preparation for upcoming competitions. The mindset adopted when reflecting on past performances, including setbacks, plays a significant role in how he approaches subsequent seasons.
The Role of Team Dynamics in Success
In discussing his career, Pogacar emphasizes the importance of teamwork in achieving individual success within cycling. He acknowledges the sacrifices made by teammates throughout the season, stressing that racing is inherently a team sport rather than an individual pursuit. The camaraderie and mutual support experienced in high-pressure scenarios are integral to his performance, allowing him to cope better with the demands of racing. Pogacar's grateful acknowledgment of his team's effort showcases how collaboration and shared goals significantly enhance the likelihood of victory.
Tadej Pogačar is a three-time Tour de France champion and one of the most dominant cyclists of his generation. In this episode, he shares insights into his 2020 Tour de France victory, his historic 2024 season winning both the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France, and the struggles he faced in 2022 and 2023. He also dives into his training regimen, nutrition, and the key metrics he tracks, like power, VAM, and heart rate variability. Tadej offers a glimpse into his goals for the future and what it takes to stay at the top of the sport.
We discuss:
2020 Tour de France win [4:30];
Learning from previous mistakes [8:45];
Training: simulating steep climbs and other challenging race conditions [10:30];
Tadej’s historic 2024 season and what contributed to his success [12:30];
Nutrition for optimal performance: offseason diet and carbohydrate intake during intense training sessions [15:30];
Training metrics: heart rate, power output, VAM, and HRV, and his approach to zone 2 training [18:15];
Epic climbs in the Tour de France, mindset after challenging stages, and rebuilding confidence after the 2023 Tour [25:45];
Racing dynamics, media criticism, and Tadej’s reflections on racing records [32:15];