Tadej Pogačar, a three-time Tour de France champion, shares his secrets from the saddle. He discusses his 2020 victory and the lessons learned from tough years in 2022 and 2023. His training strategy includes intense simulations of steep climbs and a focus on heart rate and power metrics. Tadej highlights the importance of nutrition, detailing his offseason diet and carb intake during training. He also reflects on the challenges of racing dynamics and confidence rebuilding, offering a candid look into the life of a top-tier cyclist.
45:44
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Unexpected 2020 Win
Tadej Pogačar wasn't expecting to win the 2020 Tour de France.
He was initially aiming for a podium finish, riding as co-leader with Fabio Aru.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Realizing Podium Potential
Pogačar realized he could secure second place after the Col de la Loze stage.
He finished close behind Primož Roglič, while Miguel Ángel López won the stage.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Pressure-Free Time Trial
Pogačar felt relaxed going into the final time trial, not expecting to win.
He focused on having the lightest possible bike (6.8kg) for the climb.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
The Life of Eddy Merckx, Cycling's Greatest Champion
William Fotheringham
Half Man, Half Bike is a detailed exploration of Eddy Merckx's life and career, highlighting his incredible achievements in cycling, including his 445 victories. The book also delves into the personal struggles and controversies that accompanied his success. Fotheringham provides a nuanced portrayal of Merckx, revealing a complex figure beyond his cycling legend.
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];