Pogačar Went to the Sauna, So Rival Mechanics Examined His Bike
Translated from Slovenian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.
At a glance
In-depth
Named sources
Context piece
- Tadej Pogačar left his bike with Quick-Step mechanics while he and partner Urška Žigart went to a sauna in Spain.
- Four mechanics weighed and measured the Colnago and examined its settings, particularly Pogačar’s forward saddle position.
- Former team manager Patrick Lefevere said the inspection found no hidden motor and described Pogačar as unassuming away from the cameras.
Tadej Pogačar wanted a quiet sauna visit with his partner, Urška Žigart. Instead, four mechanics from a rival team got an unexpected chance to investigate the bike of one of cycling’s biggest stars.
The Slovenian cyclist had visited the Suitopia hotel in Spain, where Žigart was staying, and asked Quick-Step mechanics if he could leave his bike in their workshop while they went to the sauna. They agreed. Once Pogačar was out of sight, the mechanics weighed his Colnago, took measurements and studied its settings.
As soon as Pogi disappeared from sight, our mechanics jumped on the bike.
They did not dismantle the bike, although Lefevere joked that they had come close. The most striking detail they noticed involved the saddle. Compared with the bottom bracket, Pogačar sat noticeably farther forward. The mechanics did not find a secret technical advantage, and Lefevere added that the bike contained no motor.
The anecdote came from a column by Patrick Lefevere, the former longtime head of Soudal Quick-Step. He said Pogačar and Žigart often appeared almost anonymous during winter stays, sitting in hotel lobbies without attracting attention. To someone who does not follow cycling, Lefevere said, it would be difficult to guess that the hooded young man was the world’s best cyclist. He also described Pogačar as the rider with the greatest hunger for victories since Eddy Merckx.
He could be your neighbor.
About this summary
Originally published by Delo in Slovenian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.
More Stories
From Our Blog
What Gets Lost (and Found) When News Is Translated
The Critical Role of Diaspora Media in Global News
What Travellers Should Know About Countries with Restricted Press
A Digital Nomad's Guide to Following Local News
How the Same Story Looks Different in Different Countries
