Bytagpublish the publication “Tadej Pogačar: when posture becomes domination”
The 2025 Tour de France enters its decisive third week tomorrow. The Mont Ventoux stage (Tuesday, July 22) will open a formidable final triptych, with two Alpine giants in sight: the Col de la Loze (Thursday, July 24) and La Plagne (Friday, July 25). The finish will then be decided on a new route in Paris, with a short, tense, and symbolic final stage via the Butte Montmartre, before a final passage on the Champs-Élysées on Sunday, July 27. On the eve of this final sequence, Tadej Pogačar dominates the general classification with a 4'13" lead over Jonas Vingegaard. Solid at Luchon-Superbagnères (stage 14), calm in the Pyrenees, he continues to impose his law... while still sitting on his saddle. Normal or not normal?
By Jeff Tatard – Photos: ©continental, ©depositphotos.com, D.R.
Because what's as fascinating as his numbers is his posture: Pogačar climbs sitting down. Often. For a long time. Strongly.
To understand this style which has become his signature, 3bikes.fr crossed three complementary perspectives:
• Laurent Jalabert, former champion, now a consultant for France Télévisions
• Emmanuel Brunet, former performance manager at the FFC
• José Lopez, biomechanical coach, discreet but renowned in postural optimization circles
Posture: a weapon of domination
Laurent Jalabert, live on France TV, makes no secret of it: " Pogačar often climbs sitting down. Not because it's easy, but because it's his fighting style. »
A simple sentence, but one heavy with meaning. Because in a peloton where the dancer remains the reflex in the face of the high percentagestagis, the Slovenian remains glued to his saddle as if on a rail. He doesn't move - it's mytagwho gives in.
Geometry and position: everything is calculated
For Emmanuel Brunet, this position is neither intuitive nor gratuitous. It is the result of a surgical construction: " He sits far forward on the saddle. His center of gravity is aligned with the bottom bracket, and the saddle is slightly tilted forward. All this allows him to stay seated without losing performance, even at high intensity. »
This positioning allows for smooth, constant pedaling, without unnecessary oscillationThe hip-trunk angle remains open, abdominal breathing is preserved — even on passes over 10%.
The inclined saddle: that little thing that changes everything
José Lopez, cycling posture expert and technical coach, emphasizes one key detail: “ This slight forward tilt relieves perineal pressure, stabilizes the pelvis, and most importantly... prevents unnecessary slippage. He can therefore remain seated without having to constantly readjust. »
A gain in comfort… but also a gain in watts. According to him, this precise adjustment is rare but extremely effective among powerful climbers: " Some try it, but very few manage to maintain it with such regularity. »
Ventoux and the Alps: preferred terrain
The Ventoux on Tuesday (15,7 km at 7,4%) after Monday's rest day promises to be hot, windy, and challenging. The link-up with the Alps, and in particular the 5 m of elevation gain on the Loze stage, will create the perfect terrain to observe this style: seated power, without peaks, without letup.
Where others have to restart standing up, Pogačar unrolls, installed, compact, impassiveIt is an energetic choice as much as a mental one: stability becomes a threat.
Forwardtage physique: between genetics and training
Finally, Brunet and Lopez
It can thus support 400 to 420 watts while seated, for a long time, without misalignment or mechanical loss.
Conclusion: Pogačar's style is efficiency in stillness
As the final week approaches, it's a safe bet that Pogačar won't need to change his pace to dominate. He will remain seated - and the peloton will waver around him.
On the slopes of Ventoux, in the crushing passes of the Alps, right up to the final climb of Montmartre, it is not only his power that will leave its mark, but the consistency of his posture: a locked center of gravity, a subtly inclined saddle, a perfectly fixed body…but never fixed in intention.
