Pogačar in the yellow jersey: "Eat like a robot and go with the flow" – The Tour de France champion's new philosophy

Once upon a time, the Tour de France saw great champions build their strength slowly, conserving their energy for the decisive final week. That strategy, however, now seems a thing of the past. Tadej Pogačar , the new leader of the general classification after his victory in the third stage finishing in Les Angles, has very clear ideas: anyone who truly wants to fight for the yellow jersey must arrive at the start in peak form.

"Maybe twenty years ago, you were aiming to build up towards the final week," Pogačar said after his stage three victory. "But today you have to arrive at the Tour in the best possible shape, try to recover as best as possible every day, eat like a robot, and go with the flow. What you bring here is what you have to deal with. There are always good and bad days, but I don't think you can build your form on the fly—at least not for those aiming for the general classification."

A direct and powerful message, a warning to all rivals. For fantasy football managers, this is a crucial signal : Pogačar isn't a slow-warming rider. He's already at full strength, and the next 18 days promise to be thrilling.

Monday's stage offered an impressive glimpse of his current form. In the final sprint on the 1.7-kilometer climb, the Slovenian sprinted away from teammate Isaac Del Toro , stunning everyone, including rivals like Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), who couldn't withstand his sustained attack.

With this victory, Pogačar moved up to fifth in the all-time Tour de France stage win ranking, joining André Darrigade on 22. Mark Cavendish 's all-time record of 35 stages is still 13 wins away, but the Slovenian has plenty of time and talent to get closer. "Maybe today was my last victory ever, so I'd rather stay in the moment and enjoy the success," he replied with a disarming smile. "If today were my last victory, I'd still be happy enough."

The story with Isaac Del Toro deserves a chapter of its own. The young Mexican, already a solo winner in the second stage on Montjuïc in Barcelona thanks to a tactical masterpiece from his captain, is proving to be a top-notch domestique and a potential heir to the UAE throne. Pogačar gifted Del Toro that victory with a tank still half full, a masterstroke that speaks volumes about the strength and cohesion of this duo. "We have a similar mentality and know what we're capable of together. I can be really happy and proud of how he's riding; he's a great champion," Pogačar said of his teammate.

From a fantasy cycling perspective , the Pogačar-Del Toro duo is an almost obligatory investment. Pogačar is accumulating points in the general classification, in the mountain stages, and in the reclamation stages; Del Toro, for his part, is a rider capable of solo wins and decisive action in the most challenging stages. The UAE team is running flawlessly: the team controlled the breakaway and set the stage for their captain in the third stage with impeccable precision.

On the mood front, the Pogačar who crossed the mixed zone smiling and relaxed was a far cry from the ailing one last year, when a knee injury had complicated his defense of the yellow jersey in the final week. "Wait until the last week, then I'll get grumpy," he joked. "Last year I had my problems, but that's normal: even outside of sport, there are days when you're more tired and a little moody. It's human."

With 18 stages still to go, a Pogačar in this form is the true decider of the 2026 Tour. Rivals should be warned: form doesn't build on the run, and the Slovenian has already arrived with everything he needs to secure a record-tying fifth victory in Paris.

Photo: Sprint Cycling Agency