SHOCKING UPDATE: Tadej Pogačar, the two-time Tour de France champion and the undisputed leader of UAE Team Emirates, may be forced to withdraw from the 2025 edition of the Tour due to a sudden illness that has disrupted his final preparations. Widely regarded as one of the most complete and dominant riders of his generation, Pogačar’s potential absence has sent shockwaves throughout the cycling world and thrown UAE Team Emirates’ title ambitions into serious doubt just days before the Grand Départ.
According to sources close to the team, Pogačar has been experiencing persistent fatigue and flu-like symptoms following an intense training block, prompting the medical staff to reassess his readiness for the three-week race. While the team has remained tight-lipped about the specifics, it’s believed that his condition has not improved significantly, casting real concern over whether he can endure the physical demands of the Tour’s mountainous stages and relentless pace.
Pogačar was set to headline the 2025 race as the pre-race favorite, aiming to reclaim the yellow jersey after a fierce rivalry with Jonas Vingegaard and other GC contenders. His absence would not only leave a gaping hole in the competition but also upend the tactical landscape of the entire peloton. For UAE Team Emirates, who have built their Tour campaign around his climbing strength and time trial prowess, the timing couldn’t be worse.
A final decision on his participation is expected soon, with the team monitoring his condition daily. Fans across the globe, who have come to admire Pogačar’s fearless racing and charismatic presence, now wait anxiously for updates. If confirmed, his withdrawal would mark one of the most shocking pre-race developments in recent Tour de France history and drastically alter the course of the 2025 race before the first pedal stroke.
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