The consensus narrative is that elite athletes always outperform amateurs, yet Tadej Pogačar, a five-time Tour de France champion, did not finish ahead of every participant in his own challenge. On Sunday, August 2, 2026, the Slovenian cyclist took on more than 1,000 recreational riders up the Krvavec climb. He started 7 minutes behind them, but he was still left with one amateur, Germany's Frederik Niessen, ahead of him by 5 minutes and 50 seconds.
The Pogi Challenge was one of the highlights of a three-day event in Komenda, where Pogačar also held a criterium the day before. Krvavec is a personal landmark for Pogačar — he won his first race there as a junior in 2009. This year, the climb was chosen in part because its elevation gain (1,177 meters) matched the number of participants.
Pogačar's Performance Falls Short
Pogačar’s climb time of 40 minutes fell short of his best ever on the route — 31 minutes, set before the 2024 Tour de France. It was also slower than the time of 44 minutes and 15 seconds recorded by 41-year-old Brit Andrew Feather, who finished ahead of him in last year’s event.
Before the climb began, Pogačar gave the amateurs clear advice: ease through the first two kilometers and then push when conditions felt right. He also passed hundreds of riders on the route, often at vastly different speeds. But Niessen, one of the first to leave the starting area, held his pace and crossed the finish with 45 minutes and 50 seconds on the clock.
Charity and Human Side of the Event
Pogačar, ever the diplomat, smiled at the end of the climb and said the event was a pleasure to participate in. But his 50-minute time was the slowest among the elite riders in the challenge, which also featured Isaac del Toro, Pascal Ackermann, and Ryan Gibbons. It was clear from the road that even a Tour champion’s legs can feel the strain when the event is not a race but a spectacle.
Supporters lined the route, cheering Pogačar on as he passed riders he once inspired to take up the sport. The climb wasn’t just about competition — it was part of the Tadej Pogačar Foundation's charity efforts, with funds going to local causes in his home country. But the performance on the climb was a reminder that even the best cyclists aren’t immune to pacing misjudgments, especially when chasing for fun.
What the event revealed wasn’t just a failed chase — it was the human side of a sports icon. Pogačar didn’t start with a win as the goal; he wanted to ride with fans, not beat them. His personal best on the Krvavec climb is no longer the bar he needs to clear every time he steps on a bike. The event was never about breaking records, and that’s precisely why it felt so real.
The Pogi Challenge is becoming an annual tradition, and while it’s not a race, it still carries weight. The climb is a test of endurance and pacing, and this year, at least one rider — Niessen — managed it better than the five-time Tour winner. The climb didn’t just showcase Pogačar’s limits, but also the growing community of amateur riders who continue to chase greatness, even if it’s not on the professional level.