The Muscle Paradox: When Strength Becomes a Cyclist's Burden
There’s something almost poetic about Tadej Pogačar’s recent admission that he’s been hitting the gym a little too hard. The man who’s dominated the climbs for years is now finding himself weighed down—literally—by his own ambition. Personally, I think this is one of the most fascinating paradoxes in modern cycling: the athlete who’s built a career on lightness suddenly grappling with the consequences of getting swole.
The Classics Conundrum
Let’s start with the Classics. Pogačar’s decision to bulk up for these races makes sense on paper. The Classics demand raw power, explosive strength, and the ability to muscle through cobblestones and brutal terrain. But here’s the thing: what works for the Classics doesn’t necessarily translate to the climbs. And that’s where Pogačar’s recent struggles become so intriguing.
What many people don’t realize is that cycling is a sport of extremes. You’re either sprinting at full throttle or climbing at a cadence that feels like you’re defying gravity. The body that excels in one often falters in the other. Pogačar’s admission that he’s heavier than usual—and that it’s costing him on the climbs—is a stark reminder of this delicate balance. It’s like watching a Formula 1 car trying to navigate a rally course: the wrong setup can turn a champion into a contender.
The Pauline Ferrand-Prévot Parallel
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a cyclist deliberately alter their physique for specific races. In 2025, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot famously bulked up for Paris-Roubaix, a move that paid off spectacularly. But she then shed the extra weight for the Tour de France Femmes, where she dominated the climbs. The contrast between these two approaches is striking.
From my perspective, Ferrand-Prévot’s strategy was a masterclass in adaptability. She understood that the demands of Roubaix required a different kind of body than the Tour. Pogačar, on the other hand, seems to be learning this lesson in real-time. His candid admission that he ‘got a little bit carried away in the gym’ is both refreshing and revealing. It’s a rare moment of vulnerability from a rider who’s often portrayed as invincible.
The Climb vs. The Gym
One thing that immediately stands out is how Pogačar’s extra muscle is affecting his performance. During the Tour de Romandie, he noted that the downhill sections were harder than the climbs. This is particularly interesting because it suggests that his added bulk isn’t just slowing him uphill—it’s altering his entire riding dynamic.
If you take a step back and think about it, this raises a deeper question: how much is too much when it comes to strength training for cyclists? The sport has long glorified the lean, wiry climber, but Pogačar’s experiment challenges that archetype. Is there room for a hybrid model—a rider who can power through the Classics and still conquer the mountains? Or is cycling destined to remain a sport of specialists?
The Road to the Tour de France
With the Tour de France looming, Pogačar’s current predicament takes on even greater significance. The race is a brutal test of endurance, strategy, and, yes, weight. Every gram matters when you’re climbing the Alps or the Pyrenees. The fact that Pogačar is already acknowledging the need to ‘back off a little bit’ suggests he’s aware of the stakes.
But here’s where it gets really interesting: Pogačar isn’t just any rider. He’s a two-time Tour de France winner, a world champion, and a rider who’s redefined what’s possible in the sport. His willingness to experiment—even if it means stumbling along the way—is what makes him such a compelling figure. Personally, I think this could be a pivotal moment in his career. Will he revert to his tried-and-true formula, or will he find a way to blend strength and lightness into something entirely new?
The Broader Implications
What this really suggests is that cycling is evolving. The days of one-size-fits-all training programs are over. Riders like Pogačar and Ferrand-Prévot are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, testing the limits of their bodies in pursuit of greatness. But with that comes risk.
A detail that I find especially interesting is how this trend could trickle down to amateur riders. If the pros are experimenting with muscle mass, will we see a shift in how cyclists train across the board? Or will the traditional focus on lightweight endurance remain the gold standard? These are questions that go beyond Pogačar’s current struggles—they speak to the very essence of the sport.
Final Thoughts
As Pogačar heads into the Tour de Suisse and beyond, his gym-induced bulk will undoubtedly be a talking point. But what makes this particularly fascinating is the broader conversation it sparks. Cycling is as much a mental game as a physical one, and Pogačar’s willingness to openly discuss his challenges is a testament to his maturity as an athlete.
In my opinion, this isn’t a story about failure—it’s a story about innovation. Pogačar is learning, adapting, and pushing the envelope. Whether he’ll strike the perfect balance by July remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: his journey is reshaping our understanding of what it means to be a cyclist. And that, to me, is the most exciting part of all.
