The New Zealand cyclist George Bennett, former teammate of the five-time Tour de France champion in UAE, explains the radical change in mentality and professionalism of the Slovenian star after being humiliated in that Tour three years ago.
PARIS ā New Zealand cyclist George Bennett has offered a fascinating inside look into the transformation of Tadej PogaÄar, explaining how a crushing defeat at the Tour de France reshaped the Slovenian prodigy from an easygoing phenom into an all-conquering force.
Bennett, who rode alongside PogaÄar at UAE Team Emirates during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, witnessed firsthand the pivotal moment that altered the trajectory of modern professional cycling: stage 11 of the 2022 Tour de France finishing at the Col du Granon. On that brutal Alpine afternoon, Jumbo-Visma unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks, cracking PogaÄar, stripping him of the yellow jersey, and ultimately handing Jonas Vingegaard his first Grand Tour triumph.
For PogaÄar, who had won the previous two editions of the Tour with apparent ease, the defeat was a sharp reality check. According to Bennett, it provided the exact spark the young star needed to redefine his approach to the sport.
“The Granon woke up the beast,” Bennett revealed in an interview reflecting on his time with the team. “I was there when we lost the Tour de France on the Col du Granon, and I think that moment was crucial for his career. Back then, he already had huge talent, but he didn’t work as hard as others. He was simply so natural that he didn’t need to pay as much attention to every single detail as everyone else did.”
In his early years, PogaÄarās genius relied heavily on raw physical gifts and a relaxed mindset. Teammates often remarked on his laid-back demeanor, with some lightheartedly noting that he achieved his early Grand Tour victories while eating fast food, enjoying a beer, and playing video games rather than obsessing over strict marginal gains.
However, the Granon setback triggered an immediate overhaul in PogaÄarās mentality and professionalism. Recognizing that sheer talent was no longer enough to stay ahead of rival teams like Jumbo-Vismaāwho were pioneering hyper-meticulous approaches to altitude camps, nutrition, and aerodynamicsāPogaÄar fully committed to the sport’s modern demands.
“Now he is completely focused,” Bennett noted. “He trains incredibly hard, he has changed his diet, and he understands the importance of the small details. When you combine the greatest natural talent in the world with that level of hard work and a killer mentality, the result is unstoppable.”
The shift in professional discipline bore immediate fruit in subsequent seasons, elevating PogaÄar from a Grand Tour contender to a dominant force across the entire calendarāwinning multi-stage Grand Tours, Monument classics, and World Championships with unprecedented authority.
Bennett, who now races for Israel-Premier Tech, highlighted that PogaÄar managed to overhaul his professionalism without losing the youthful joy that makes him unique. Unlike the rigid, calculated stars of past eras, the Slovenian still races with an infectious freedom and instinct, but now backed by world-class preparation.
“The difference now is that the beast has work ethic to match his gifts,” Bennett concluded. “That defeat changed everything.”
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