The weak performance of cycling giant Tadej Pogacar in the individual time trial of the World Cup in Kigali is and remains a hot topic of discussion. The Belgian team doctor has now also said.
It is still not clear what exactly Tadej Pogacar is braking in the individual time trial of the World Cycling Championship. What is obvious is that the superstar was not in full possession of his strength, otherwise he would not have been overtaken by Remco Evenepoel on the track and ended up in the end only fourth.
Belgium’s team doctor Kris Van der Mieren was able to speculate in the “Sporza” conversation even about the reasons for the sloping of the Slovenian. “I don’t know his situation, but maybe the jet lag still affects his body. But that could have been done within a week and benefit him,” said the doctor.
Pogacar started in two races in Canada immediately before the World Cup start. He flew from North America directly to Africa. He only landed in Kigali on September 19, just 48 hours later the individual time trial was on the program. The jet lag could therefore be an explanation for its surprisingly weak performance.
If Pogacar is not fresh, he has no chance
“If it was not due to the jet lag, he will have a very difficult stand against a strong Evenepoel on Saturday. But again: Maybe something is not right with Pogacar. Or maybe he was just not fresh. In my opinion, this is a very important factor, this will also be on Sunday. Everyone who is not fresh or in good shape will have no chance,” forecast van of the miere.
Missing freshness is punished ten times harder in the amount of Kigali than in the lowlands, the doctor described. “At the Tour de France you also drive stages with 5000 meters of altitude, but there you are only at this height for an hour or two. In Rwanda, the entire race takes place at 1500 meters.” He has not yet experienced this at a World Cup in this form.
“This makes this World Cup so unique. You saw what problems drivers had with a large engine like Pogacar. If you are not acclimatized, you can easily lose five to ten percent performance. The drivers definitely feel that,” said van of the Mieren.