Lance Armstrong experienced it once, and Chris Froome also had to deal with hostility – and suddenly, superstar Tadej Pogacar is being booed at the Tour de France too. Whilst the Slovenian world champion had previously thrilled cycling fans with his spectacular riding style and easy-going manner, his overwhelming dominance now seems to be bothering some spectators lining the route. Banners bearing the words ‘UAE Mafia’ have also been spotted.
Pogacar took this new experience in his stride. “I always think of tennis – of Novak Djokovic and his mental strength. He’s had one of the toughest careers in that respect and has had to put up with a lot of booing, sometimes for no apparent reason, even though he’s one of the greatest of all time. So when someone boos me, I think of Novak Djokovic and draw inspiration from him,” said the world champion.
Pogacar has dominated cycling in recent years, a feat matched before him perhaps only by Eddy Merckx. With four overall Tour de France victories, 24 stage wins and two world championship titles, this exceptional rider leaves his rivals with hardly a chance, even in the classics. The 2026 Tour also appears to have been decided even before the major Alpine stages. The last time anyone dominated the Tour de France to such an extent was Froome, with four victories in five years. Armstrong’s seven consecutive victories were, however, subsequently stripped from him due to doping. Both also had unpleasant experiences at the side of the road.
Hostility towards van der Poel at the cyclo-cross race
In the past, Mathieu van der Poel has had to put up with far worse hostility, particularly at cyclo-cross races in Belgium. Some fans find it hard to accept that the Dutchman dominates the Belgian circuit to such an extent. Van der Poel has even had beer or urine thrown at him.
Pogacar’s supporters, however, are clearly in the majority along the roadside. “99 per cent of the people are cheering everyone on. Cycling fans are the best in the whole of sport,” says the Tour organiser, adding: “If someone boos me or anyone else, they’re actually booing the whole peloton, because you can’t really tell exactly who it’s aimed at. After all, we’re all riding past together.”
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