Tadej Pogačar absolutely destroys Col de la Madone KOM

After finishing second at the Tour de France, Tadej Pogačar took a short break before resuming training…and it seems like he’s got some good legs. As he gears up to race at the world championships in Glasgow, a recent training ride has showcased his strong form.

The two-time TdF champion started off the 2023 edition well, but lost the TT to a stunning ride by Jonas Vingegaard, and then suffering a jours sans during the Col de La Loze climb on Stage 17. Pogačar would ultimately finish second, taking the white jersey for best young rider. Pog missed valuable training time in his Tour lead-up due to a broken wrist suffered at Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

On Monday the UAE Team Emirates rider announced he will lead the Slovenian national team at the upcoming world championships. On the UAE Team Emirates has achieved a significant feat by breaking Richie Porte’s previous Strava KOM record on the famous Col de la Madone ascent. The Slovenian national champion climbed the 17 per cent climb at an average speed of 24.5km/h. Pog took the record, coming in at 23:53. Porte’s ride was 24:23. The third-placed time, by the way, was Israel – Premier Tech’s Mike woods, at 25:40.

Urška Žigart had to talk Tadej Pogačar into staying in the Tour de France

“Baiting Richie Porte to come back in Europe,” the caption on his Strava ride read. The former Team Sky and BMC rider retired in 2022.