Tadej Pogačar is raising alarm bells within the UAE Team Emirates camp and across the cycling world as signs of illness begin to emerge just as the race enters its final and most grueling stretch. The Slovenian, who has looked almost untouchable throughout the first two weeks of the 2025 edition, appeared visibly off-form during and after Stage 16.
While Pogačar managed to finish with the main GC contenders during Tuesday’s stage, sharp-eyed observers noticed he wasn’t his usual explosive self on the final climbs. Team staff were seen handing him fluids more frequently, and he skipped post-stage interviews, reportedly heading straight to the team bus for recovery.
Sources close to the team revealed that Pogačar has been experiencing mild symptoms of fatigue, including a sore throat, chills, and a noticeable drop in appetite—early signs that he could be dealing with a virus or exhaustion-related illness.
UAE Team Emirates issued a short statement Tuesday evening:
“Tadej is feeling slightly under the weather but remains in good spirits. Our medical staff are closely monitoring his condition. There is no reason for alarm at this stage.”
However, insiders suggest the team is taking no risks. Pogačar underwent additional medical checks after Stage 16, and the team is boosting hygiene protocols and nutrition around their team hotel to prevent any spread of illness within the squad.
With only five stages remaining—including two punishing mountain stages and a decisive individual time trial—the slightest dip in health could prove costly for Pogačar. His nearest rival, Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), trails by just over a minute and has looked increasingly comfortable after overcoming his own early race difficulties.
“This final week could flip the race on its head,” said Eurosport commentator Bradley Wiggins. “If Tadej isn’t at 100%, Vingegaard will smell blood.”
The 2025 Tour de France has already seen several riders suffer from a “mysterious bug” that’s been quietly circulating through the peloton. Team INEOS’s Carlos Rodríguez and Alpecin-Deceuninck’s Søren Kragh Andersen both withdrew last week due to flu-like symptoms. Speculation is mounting that the virus is still active within the Tour’s closed environment.
Despite the worrying signs, Pogačar remains known for his resilience and calm under pressure. This isn’t the first time he’s faced adversity in the Tour. In 2022, he battled heat exhaustion; in 2023, a wrist fracture; and in 2024, team chaos. Yet he still emerged a champion.
“This is where legends are made,” said ex-pro and analyst Jens Voigt. “If he pulls through this, it’ll go down as one of the great performances in Tour history.”
Next Up: Stage 17 – A brutal 178km route to Pla d’Adet in the Pyrenees. If Pogačar is truly struggling, we may see fireworks from Vingegaard and Primož Roglič.
Stay tuned. The yellow jersey is far from secure.
