“Merry Christmas!”—Tadej Pogačar has once again claimed the spotlight by shattering his own Strava KOM (King of the Mountain) record on the renowned Coll de Rates climb in Spain, clocking in at an impressive 11:57.
Just last December, the talented rider from UAE Team Emirates-XRG set a record of 12:21 on this challenging ascent, but he has now improved his time by an astonishing 24 seconds during a training ride on a Friday. The specific segment on Strava measures 6.43 kilometers with an average gradient of 5.5%, which translates to an elevation gain of 347 meters.
Pogačar was in the region for a team training camp, as Calpe and Benidorm on the Costa Blanca are well-known destinations for cycling teams looking to prepare during this season. The Coll de Rates is a favored spot for professional cyclists who wish to push their limits and test their endurance.
During this record-breaking ride, Pogačar was accompanied by several teammates, including Kevin Vermaerke, Florian Vermeersch, Domen Novak, Nils Politt, and Pavel Sivakov, all of whom share the passion for competitive cycling.
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Looking ahead, Pogačar is set to kick off his 2026 racing season at Strade Bianche in March. Following that, he plans to compete in prestigious events such as Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
At a media day held earlier this December, Pogačar expressed his thoughts on his racing ambitions, stating, "If I had to choose between winning one more Tour title or Paris-Roubaix, I would pick Roubaix. I’ve already secured four Tours, so winning four out of five certainly makes a difference, but there’s a greater distinction between having zero wins and one win than between four and five."
This raises an intriguing question: Is it truly better to chase the elusive win at Paris-Roubaix over adding another Tour title to an already impressive resume? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
