Rob Hatch: On his way to being the greatest of all time - but Tadej Pogacar not infallible ahead of Tour de France 2025
Published 16/06/2025 at 21:17 GMT+1
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Speaking on the latest edition of The Gruppetto with Rob Hatch, the TNT Sports expert has given his take on Tadej Pogacar’s impressive Criterium du Dauphine win as anticipation ramps up for the Tour de France. The Slovenian bested his main rival Jonas Vingegaard to claim another title, but what does it all mean in relation to the Tour, which begins on July 5 live on TNT Sports and discovery+?
The Gruppetto with Rob Hatch: Pogacar mighty but did Dauphine highlight weakness?
Video credit: TNT Sports
Like many, Rob Hatch believes cycling phenomenon Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) is "on his way to being the greatest of all time" but the TNT Sports expert did offer a glimmer of hope for the Slovenian’s rivals ahead of the Tour de France 2025.
Pogacar, a three-time champion of the Tour, added a maiden Criterium du Dauphine title to his roll of honour, beating Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) by the best part of a minute over the eight stages and moving onto 99 professional wins in the process.
While the margin of victory might not leap off the page, the manner of it, at times, certainly did. For it is in the mountains when things get particularly gruelling that Vingegaard, himself a two-time Tour winner, is supposed to have the edge. But Pogacar repelled every attack with ease to deal his most formidable foe a psychological blow at a crucial time of the year.
It was not all plain sailing, however. A potential chink in the armour was exposed in the Stage 4 Time Trial. Won by world champion Remco Evenepoel, Pogacar conceded 49 seconds to the flying Belgian and 28 to Vingegaard.
He responded in style by taking victory in Stage 6 and 7, but it is something that will have caught the attention of his competitors.
Analysing the events of the Dauphine on The Gruppetto with Rob Hatch, the TNT Sports expert said: "Where is everybody? Well, given that the main appointment [the Tour de France] doesn't yet start for almost three weeks, and that the meaty part of it is a month away, any conclusion is going to contain an element of guesswork.
"Let's start with the winner, Tadej Pogacar’s last defeat in a stage race happened almost two long years ago. Even when he doesn't win the GC, he wins stages, so on 99 victories, we can assume that he'll join the 100 club at some point during the Tour.
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‘A lot of positives’ – Pogacar reflects on ‘amazing week’ after first Dauphine title
Video credit: TNT Sports
"This past week was as impressive as ever, but there was perhaps a TT weakness, maybe a bad day, supremacy everywhere else.
"But history teaches us that the race is won towards the end of July, and not this early. It also tells us that Pog is not infallible, though he has a sensational record. He does continue to look like he's on his way to being the greatest of all time.
"He now returns to altitude, going to Isola 2000, works on his TT for a bit, and then will go home."
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When not in the heat of battle, Pogacar and Vingegaard appear to get on and share a healthy respect for one another, but there was an interesting moment at the end of the final stage of the Dauphine.
With the GC triumph wrapped up, Pogacar did not put up a fight as Vingegaard came around him on the run to the line to secure second. He also took his foot off the gas well before the end on Stage 7.
Supreme confidence or something else?
"What about the mind games?" Hatch continued. "We saw a slightly different side to Pog, didn't we? And some ex-pros have said the non-sprinting on the last day, slowing up the day before as well, allied to comments he made after that stage might have been a mistake."
Pogacar insisted he was merely saving energy in easing up with a kilometre to go on the penultimate stage; whatever the case, it all adds to the intrigue ahead of what promises to be another electric edition of cycling’s greatest showpiece.
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