馃敟 SHOCKING NEWS FROM TOUR DE FRANCE 2025: Tadej Poga膷ar’s Sudden Exit Sparks Internal Chaos at UAE Team Emirates
In a stunning turn of events that has sent shockwaves through the cycling world, Slovenian superstar Tadej Poga膷ar has reportedly decided to withdraw from the remaining Grand Tours of the 2025 season following what insiders are calling an “explosive closed-door meeting” with UAE Team Emirates management. The bombshell development emerged after a leaked internal discussion between head coach Mauro Gianetti and several top riders sparked widespread speculation about mounting internal tensions within the team. Now, with the Tour de France barely in the rearview mirror, Poga膷ar’s future this season hangs in the balance—and Europe’s cycling media is in full meltdown.
Sources close to the team revealed that the secret meeting, held just 48 hours after the Tour’s dramatic conclusion in Paris, was meant to lay the groundwork for the team’s strategies at the Vuelta a España and Il Lombardia. Instead, what unfolded was an intense confrontation between team leadership and certain senior riders, including Poga膷ar, who reportedly felt sidelined and “completely exhausted” after a grueling Tour. Witnesses suggest that the Slovenian rider looked visibly upset during the meeting, and allegedly told Gianetti and staff, “That’s too horrible for me.” The chilling statement, now circulating rapidly among sports outlets, has been interpreted as a sign of deep dissatisfaction—not just physical, but emotional.
The shocking part? It wasn’t just Poga膷ar’s fatigue that fueled the tension. Leaked memos and anonymous testimonies hint at growing unrest among UAE Team Emirates’ top-tier cyclists. Some riders reportedly questioned the increasingly centralized control exerted by the coaching staff, particularly surrounding team selection and energy distribution throughout the Tour. One team insider even claimed that “Poga膷ar wasn’t consulted enough” and felt pressured into decisions that didn’t align with his personal goals.
The cycling community across Europe is stunned. Just days ago, Poga膷ar seemed ready to take on the Vuelta with the same fierce determination that brought him four stage wins at the Tour de France. Now, his abrupt withdrawal is being viewed as a symbol of deeper fractures within what was once seen as the most unified team in pro cycling. The whispers of rebellion inside UAE Team Emirates have evolved into full-throated questions about leadership stability, athlete wellbeing, and what the future holds for one of the sport’s most decorated figures.
Social media erupted after the news broke late last night. Hashtags like #SavePogacar and #UAEDrama surged to the top of Twitter’s trending topics in both France and Slovenia, while thousands of fans flooded the team’s official pages demanding answers. The narrative is no longer about winning—it’s about survival, unity, and mental health in a sport long plagued by intense pressure and opaque decision-making.
Coach Mauro Gianetti, who has yet to publicly address the reports, is now facing growing scrutiny. Critics argue that the coaching philosophy has become “too militant,” sacrificing rider autonomy for rigid strategic execution. Former riders have also begun speaking out, with one unnamed source telling L’Équipe that “this isn’t the team we once knew—something has changed, and not for the better.”
As of today, neither Poga膷ar nor UAE Team Emirates have released an official statement confirming the star’s withdrawal. However, multiple sources maintain that the decision is “90% locked in,” with team logistics already being restructured for a Poga膷ar-less Vuelta. If confirmed, the loss of their biggest star could drastically alter the competitive landscape of the rest of the season and open the door for rivals like Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel to claim dominance.
This is more than a scheduling change—it’s a crisis of identity for UAE Team Emirates and perhaps a wake-up call for the sport as a whole. The Tour de France may be over, but for Tadej Poga膷ar and the cycling world, the real drama is just beginning.
