Tadej Pogačar has been booed by some spectators at the Tour but his great rival, Jonas Vingegaard, has hit out at those on the roadside (Photo: Thomas Maheux)
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG) looks like he is about to dominate the Tour de France all the way to Paris, probably in a way no other rider has.
And, once he continues in the sport, he will break Mark Cavenish's Tour stage-win record; something that will be a mere footnote in his career, compared to the massive milestone it was for Cavendish.
But not everyone is impressed and the Slovenian has been booed by some sections of the crowds along the roadside at this year's Tour.
Such a dominant performance on the Tour also brings suspicion - which is understandable given cycling's history. And Pogačar is on the receiving end right now.
But one man who has come to his defence is his great rival, Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike). He was himself booed on the Tour in the past, with crisps also thrown at him and Pogačar in 2024.
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"I heard it, I think it shouldn't be acceptable in sport," Vingegaard told the media of some spectators booing Pogačar in recent days. "It can be that they don't support him, but don't boo at him.
"Why do you want to come to a sporting event if you want to boo at somebody? Just cheer on people and be happy, otherwise stay at home.
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"I understand that it's not nice for him. Being in the yellow jersey is the most looked at person in this race. I had it also in 2023 especially and it's not really nice."
Two years ago, the roles were reversed, with Pogačar springing to Vingegaard's defence when the Dane was booed on the Tour.
"It shouldn't be like this," Pogačar said at the time, when Vingegaard was being booed even though it was his Slovenian rival dominating.
"I noticed this in some other races, where I was not there, when for some riders there is a lot of booing. In cycling, this is unusual. This is what you expect in football and basketball, sports with teams against each other.
"But what we go through on the climbs, all the riders go through hell on those kinds of stages. Everybody needs support and booing doesn't suit cycling. It's unwelcome."
This time around, Pogačar has pushed back against those targeting him, saying they make him more determined.
"Cycling fans are the greatest between all the sports, so we should be happy and grateful for all fans," he said.
"And to all the booers, I think they just give more boost to my teammate or they put wood on the fire."
