Tadej Pogacar’s incredible display of strength on the climb to the Beille plateau on Sunday has, in the eyes of some fans, confirmed their suspicions of doping.
The suspense vanished with Tadej Pogacar on the ascent of the Plateau de Beille. After a first blow on Saturday towards the Plat d’Ader, the Slovenian once once more shocked the Tour de France on Sunday during the second Pyrenean stage. Jonas Vingegaard, trailing by forty seconds from the previous day, attempted to reverse the situation.
After dropping Wilco Kelderman and Matteo Jorgenson to raise the stakes, the defending champion attacked with more than ten kilometers to go. Only the leader of UAE Team Emirates was able to keep up. However, with five kilometers remaining, Tadej Pogacar surged ahead, leaving the Dane behind. The gap was significant at the finish line, with the Visma-Lease a Bike rider over three minutes behind in the general classification.
Tadej Pogacar’s performance left the peloton speechless. “When I see them go by (Pogacar and Vingegaard), I tell myself that it’s going fast… I don’t know if it’s me who is below a level that I was able to reach in the past or simply that the level of the first ones has risen once more… I’m not going to say too much but in all it’s clear that there is still a world of difference “, confided Guillaume Martin, disillusioned.
Doubt is no longer allowed
The numbers are telling. The double Tour winner not only broke the record for the climb, previously held by Marco Pantani, but he shattered it by 3’44’, completing the ascent in under 40 minutes, finishing in 39’46. “AMAZING! Pantani’s mutant record beaten by 3 minutes and 44 seconds! After 5 passes. 5 hours 13′ of effort for 15.95 km at 7.87% in 39’46 seconds at 24.07 km/h. It’s monstrous, it’s 480 standard watts, or even more” wrote Antoine Vayer, a doping critic on X, adding: “If you still believe in it, you can’t anymore.”
The former Festina coach is not the only one to see doping in the Slovenian’s performances. « Those who defend this are real clowns. », said former rider Félix Pouilly. The public is in the same state of shock.
“No one in their right mind can consider this normal. “, “There is no longer any doubt that he is not clean”, “How can he think that we can believe in such performances. It is inhuman”: these are some of the reactions noted on X.
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Tadej Pogacar’s Strength on the Beille Plateau Sparks Doping Accusations
The suspense surrounding the Tour de France evaporated with Tadej Pogacar’s awe-inspiring climb to the Plateau de Beille. After a strong performance on the Plat d’Ader the previous day, the Slovenian once once more stunned the cycling world with a dominant display in the second Pyrenean stage. Despite trailing Jonas Vingegaard by forty seconds following the previous day’s stage, Pogacar launched a relentless attack ten kilometers from the finish line.
After pacing his teammates Wilco Kelderman and Matteo Jorgenson early on, the defending champion unleashed an attack that only Vingegaard might match. However, just five kilometers before the finish, Pogacar accelerated, leaving the Dane in his wake. The result was a decisive victory for Pogacar, with Vingegaard finishing more than three minutes behind in the general classification.
Unprecedented Performance Fuels Debate
Pogacar’s performance left observers speechless. Guillaume Martin, a fellow competitor, candidly expressed his bewilderment: “When I see them go by (Pogacar and Vingegaard), I tell myself that it’s going fast… I don’t know if it’s me who is below a level that I was able to reach in the past or simply that the level of the first ones has risen once more… I’m not going to say too much but in all it’s clear that there is still a world of difference.”
The numbers speak for themselves. Pogacar shattered the previous record for the climb, previously held by the legendary Marco Pantani, by a remarkable 3 minutes and 44 seconds. He completed the 15.95 kilometers at 7.87% incline in an astonishing 39 minutes and 46 seconds, averaging an incredible 24.07 km/h.
Doping Accusations Surface
Antoine Vayer, a vocal critic of doping in cycling, highlighted the magnitude of Pogacar’s achievement on social media: “AMAZING! Pantani’s mutant record beaten by 3 minutes and 44 seconds! After 5 passes. 5 hours 13′ of effort for 15.95 km at 7.87% in 39’46 seconds at 24.07 km/h. It’s monstrous, it’s 480 standard watts, or even more.” He added: “If you still believe in it, you can’t anymore.”
Vayer is not alone in raising suspicions. Former rider Félix Pouilly vehemently denounced the performance: “Those who defend this are real clowns.” The public reaction has been equally strong, with many expressing disbelief and outrage on social media. Comments such as “No one in their right mind can consider this normal,” “There is no longer any doubt that he is not clean,” and “How can he think that we can believe in such performances. It is inhuman” highlight the widespread skepticism.
A Divided Cycling Community
The cycling community is deeply divided on the issue. Some argue that the incredible feats of endurance achieved by modern athletes are simply the result of technological advancements and improved training techniques. Others, however, point to the history of doping in cycling and the lack of any definitive proof to the contrary as evidence of suspicious activity.
The debate surrounding Pogacar’s performance raises important questions regarding the integrity of the sport and the responsibility of athletes and governing bodies to ensure a level playing field. With no definitive answers readily available, the accusations and counterarguments will continue to fuel the debate for the foreseeable future.
