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Four-time Tour de France winner Pogacar - greatest cyclist of his generation
Four-time Tour de France winner Pogacar - greatest cyclist of his generation

France 24

time2 days ago

  • Sport
  • France 24

Four-time Tour de France winner Pogacar - greatest cyclist of his generation

On his swaggering romp across France on his way to a fourth Tour de France title on Sunday, one could still catch glimpses of the boy desperate to beat his brother in the hills outside Ljubljana. But now, at 26, Pogacar has learned to curb some of his gung-ho instincts, which not only lifted him to success at times, but were also behind his rare defeats. In 2024 he won the Giro d'Italia, the Tour de France and the world title, a feat known as cycling's Triple Crown and won only by Merckx in 1974 and Stephen Roche in 1987. Pogacar's dominance of the current scene is without doubt, but the kangaroo courts of social media are asking another question, one that will forever dog cycling -- is he for real? Pogacar, a proven combative all-rounder capable of taking on mountain climbs as easily as flat sprints, has never tested positive at any time in his career. "I'm a good boy from a good family, taking no short cuts in life," he told AFP. He does indeed appear to be surrounded by a good family, a school teacher mother and a furniture designer father who live in the same village in the hills outside the Slovenian capital where he grew up. He shares a home with his fiance and fellow cyclist Urska Zigart in Monaco when their programmes allow, while his firm friend and off-season traing partner cyclist Michael Matthews of Australia is a near neighbour. "He hasn't changed, he's such a humble guy. He just wants to have fun and enjoy his riding," Matthews said. Pogacar is credited with having recreated that family spirit at his Team UAE, with whom he signed a 54-million-dollar six-year contract last November, according to Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport. 'No pretences' Teammate Pavel Sivakov told AFP that Pogacar was easy to deal with and a constantly positive personality. "He's always super relaxed and easy to work with. Mentally he's always focused on the positives. We know he's always going to deliver whatever he can. He's humble and good for the atmosphere in the team," said Sivakov. While most agree there is something boyish about Pogacar, there are signs he has grown up. "This is my sixth Tour de France now, I miss the white jersey," he told reporters, referring to the jersey worn by the best-placed rider aged 26 and under. In taking on his great rival, the two-time Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard, Pogacar has galvanised his team and forced them to control the peloton, leading to accusations of arrogance. "There's a difference between arrogance and trying to win a Tour de France," retorted the man who psyches himself up by listening to Slovenian rapper Drill. He still rides a bike with a sticker of the Incredible Hulk on it, joking: "He's the one you shouldn't make angry." Fellow Slovenian Matej Mohoric, himself a junior world champion and elite rider for the Bahrain Victorious team, said this week that Pogacar was a true great. "He was born with a machine inside him, and he was born with the brain to use that machine," Mohoric said. There will always be doubters, but during his victorious charge across France, Pogacar was already scanning the horizon for the next win. "Unlike a lot of cyclists I haven't booked any holidays, so maybe I'll race the Vuelta," he said of the Spanish Tour, which starts on August 23. He will also be in the Rwandan capital Kigali in September to defend the world road race title.

Australian cycling star Michael Matthews is out of the Tour de France after team doctors discovered signs of a pulmonary embolism
Australian cycling star Michael Matthews is out of the Tour de France after team doctors discovered signs of a pulmonary embolism

News.com.au

time15-06-2025

  • Health
  • News.com.au

Australian cycling star Michael Matthews is out of the Tour de France after team doctors discovered signs of a pulmonary embolism

Australian cycling star Michael Matthews is out of the Tour de France after team doctors discovered signs of a pulmonary embolism. Matthews, who has won four stages at the world's most prestigious race, and also took out the green points classification in 2017, was at a Jayco AlUla altitude training camp when team doctors first saw signs of the issue. A pulmonary embolism is a blood clot that goes to the lungs and blocks an artery, restricting blood flow and, if untreated, it can be life-threatening. Matthews was forced to immediately stop all physical activity, is off the team's roster for the July Tour, and his return to cycling is unknown. 'The medical team are now thoroughly investigating the extent of the issue and possible cause, to define a safe and optimal recovery process for the athlete,' a team statement said.. 'During this period of investigation, as a safeguarding measure, Matthews will refrain from competition to ensure there is no risk to his health and wellbeing, therefore ruling out his participation in the upcoming Tour de France.' Matthews had his first win of the year early last month at the Eschborn-Frankfurt one-day race in Germany and would have been a key rider for the Australian team at the Tour.

Aussie cycling star, 34, forced to put career on hold just a month before the Tour de France because of life-threatening health issue
Aussie cycling star, 34, forced to put career on hold just a month before the Tour de France because of life-threatening health issue

Daily Mail​

time15-06-2025

  • Health
  • Daily Mail​

Aussie cycling star, 34, forced to put career on hold just a month before the Tour de France because of life-threatening health issue

Aussie cycling superstar Michael Matthews has been forced to drop out of this year's Tour de France and has put his career on hold after team doctors discovered he had 'signs of a pulmonary embolism'. The discovery was made after the Jayco Alula cyclist, aged 34, was attending an altitude training camp. On learning of the issue, Jayco Alula's medical team opted to 'pause all physical activity for the rider until further notice, as a precautionary measure.' The Aussie sprinter, who hails from Canberra, was due to appear at the Tour de France, which begins on July 5, for the ninth time in his career. During his esteemed career, Matthews has won four individual stages on the Tour, having also claimed the Points Classification in 2017. In a statement issued on Sunday, Jayco Allula confirmed that his 'health condition is stable.' 'The Medical Team are now thoroughly investigating the extent of the issue and possible cause, to define a safe and optimal recovery process for the athlete,' a spokesperson wrote. 'During this period of investigation, as a safeguarding measure, Matthews will refrain from competition to ensure there is no risk to his health and well-being, therefore ruling out his participation in the upcoming Tour de France.' Matthews had enjoyed a fine start to 2025, winning the Eschborn-Frankfurt UCI World Tour race, while placing fourth in the Milan-San Remo race and fifth in the Amstel Gold Race. Matthews, meanwhile, thanked his friends, family and followers for showing him support on Sunday. 'Thank you everyone for the kind messages, I will get around to replying to you all, just taking a few days to process the news but my condition is OK and I will make a full recovery, it will just take some time. Thank you all,' he wrote on his Instagram. A pulmonary embolism is a serious condition where a blood clot blocks a vessel in a person's lungs. According to the NHS, a pulmonary embolism can in some cases be life-threatening if not treated quickly. Individuals can experience difficulty breathing, chest pain or even coughing up blood as a result of the condition.

Australian Olympian Michael Matthews stops all training amid life-threatening health issue
Australian Olympian Michael Matthews stops all training amid life-threatening health issue

7NEWS

time15-06-2025

  • Health
  • 7NEWS

Australian Olympian Michael Matthews stops all training amid life-threatening health issue

Michael Matthews is out of the Tour de France because of a health condition which, if left untreated, could have killed him. The Australian cycling star was at a Jayco AlUla altitude training camp when team doctors discovered signs of a pulmonary embolism. Matthews immediately stopped all physical activity until further notice and is off the team's roster for the July Tour. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today A pulmonary embolism is a blood clot that goes to the lungs and blocks an artery, restricting blood flow. If untreated, it can be life-threatening. Matthews would have been a key rider for the Australian team at the Tour. He has won four stages at the race and also took out the green points classification in 2017. He had his first win of the year early last month at the Eschborn-Frankfurt one-day race in Germany. Matthews made his Olympic debut last year at the Paris Games, competing in the road race. The team said in a statement that Matthews' health is stable. 'The medical team are now thoroughly investigating the extent of the issue and possible cause, to define a safe and optimal recovery process for the athlete,' the statement read. 'During this period of investigation, as a safeguarding measure, Matthews will refrain from competition to ensure there is no risk to his health and well-being, therefore ruling out his participation in the upcoming Tour de France.' Matthews posted a message to fans on his Instagram account on Saturday. 'Thank you everyone for the kind messages, I will get around to replying to you all, just taking a few days to process the news but my condition is OK and I will make a full recovery, it will just take some time. Thank you all,' he wrote.

Australian cyclist Michael Matthews to miss Tour de France due to pulmonary embolism
Australian cyclist Michael Matthews to miss Tour de France due to pulmonary embolism

ABC News

time15-06-2025

  • Health
  • ABC News

Australian cyclist Michael Matthews to miss Tour de France due to pulmonary embolism

Australian cyclist Michael Matthews will not contest the Tour de France because of a pulmonary embolism. Matthews was attending a Jayco AlUla altitude training camp when team doctors discovered signs of the health condition. The Canberran immediately stopped all physical activity until further notice and is off the team's roster for the Tour de France, which begins next month. Jayco AlUla released a statement saying Matthews's health was stable. "The medical team are now thoroughly investigating the extent of the issue and possible cause, to define a safe and optimal recovery process for the athlete," the statement read. "During this period of investigation, as a safeguarding measure, Matthews will refrain from competition to ensure there is no risk to his health and well-being, therefore ruling out his participation in the upcoming Tour de France." A pulmonary embolism is a blood clot that goes to the lungs and blocks an artery, restricting blood flow. If untreated, it can be life-threatening. Matthews would have been a key rider for Jayco AlUla at the Tour. He has won four stages at the race and claimed victory in the points classification in 2017. The 34-year-old had his first win of the year early last month at the Eschborn-Frankfurt one-day race in Germany. Matthews made his Olympic debut last year at the Paris Games, competing in the road race. AAP

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