Pogačar on the heat at the Tour: "I'd change the entire calendar, no summer races."

The heat doesn't stop Tadej Pogačar , but it does make him reflect—and speak. The leader of the 2026 Tour de France has raised his voice on one of the hottest topics of the moment, and not just metaphorically: the Slovenian champion has stated bluntly that, if he had the power to do so, he would revolutionize the entire cycling calendar to eliminate summer races in regions with prohibitive temperatures.

His words came at the end of the ninth stage of the Grande Boucle, shortened by 30 kilometers due to the red alert for the heat waves currently sweeping across France. Since the race began in Barcelona, ​​riders have had to contend with temperatures frequently exceeding 37 degrees Celsius (98.4 degrees Fahrenheit), in what is proving to be one of the hottest Tours de France in recent history.

When asked by journalists about the possibility of moving up the stage start times to avoid the afternoon heat, Pogačar immediately broadened the discussion to a much broader perspective: "I think it's a huge topic to address. If I had the power to change everything, I would change the entire calendar," said the UAE Team Emirates champion after his fourth day in the yellow jersey of 2026.

"I wouldn't race in July and August in places where it's very hot. It's something we need to think about, but ultimately it's not a decision I can make," he added realistically, while also knowing that his words, coming from the most influential athlete in the world peloton, are unlikely to go unnoticed by the ASO and UCI.

On the subject of earlier departure times, Pogačar was skeptical: "Yesterday there was a proposal to leave at 10 a.m., but for me it doesn't change anything because you'd still end up in the most intense heat." At the same time, he acknowledged that certain logistical adjustments would be feasible, such as waking up much earlier than usual: "The body can adapt," he admitted.

This isn't the first time the Slovenian champion has spoken out about the need for calendar reform. He previously suggested swapping the dates of the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España: "It's always difficult to combine the Tour and the Vuelta. I've always said that if they swapped with the Giro, both the Vuelta and the Giro would be much better in terms of weather conditions." A sentiment that now seems to be extended to the Grande Boucle itself.

Regarding the management of the current situation, Pogačar acknowledged that his UAE team was able to cope effectively with the heat: "We managed it quite well," he explained, citing specific hydration and cooling strategies. And it was evident on the ground: during the ninth stage, despite the infernal temperatures, the Emirates team worked tirelessly to keep the breakaway under control, proving that they were anything but fazed by the heat.

"We have good cooling systems," Pogačar concluded with satisfaction. "We can be happy with how things went."

Photo: Sprint Cycling Agency