Stuart O'Grady shares thoughts from Avignon on final week

AVIGNON, FRANCE – As the 2025 Tour de France pauses for its second rest day, one name dominates every conversation: Tadej Pogačar. According to Tour de France veteran Stuart O'Grady, we are witnessing a performance for the ages, one that is rewriting the playbook and drawing comparisons to the sport's most iconic and controversial figures.

Speaking from Avignon, the Tour Director for Mummu Cycling described the race to date as "absolutely brutal."

“In the first week, we always knew it was going to be treacherous... and we saw an incredible amount of [crashes]," O'Grady said. "There was a lot of carnage, and that's just the pressure of the Tour de France. Talk about a rollercoaster.”

Amid the chaos, Pogačar has not just survived; he has thrived, captivating colossal crowds that O’Grady says are the largest he has seen since the Lance Armstrong era. "People are coming to witness history," he stated. "People are coming to see Pogačar dance on the pedals and just destroy the opposition."

Pogačar's dominance has been so complete that O'Grady believes it's the "strongest that I've ever seen in recent history", noting the Slovenian's phenomenal time trial as a key example.

“That ride he did in the time trial was just phenomenal. He ripped nearly 30 seconds out of Vingegaard in 3 kilometers on the flat part before they even got to the climb," O'Grady explained. "The fact that he put out 7.2 watts/kilo for 30 minutes... well, numbers like that have never been hit before - it’s higher than Lance.”

This historic output is matched by a team, UAE Team Emirates, that is equally formidable. O'Grady notes that teammate Tim Wellens winning a stage in a solo breakaway, rather than conserving energy for Pogačar, shows that "the rule book is being thrown out the window."

From his unique vantage point on the road with Mummu Cycling, O'Grady has observed the minute details contributing to this supremacy. "I was within a foot of him yesterday... The 1% attention to detail is just nothing I've ever seen before. The handlebars are starting to look like MotoGP cockpits. He's even got an aero bandage. It's a real privilege to be here.”

The narrative has been compounded by the shocking withdrawal of pre-race rival Remco Evenepoel. "It's got a lot of people talking in the paddock, and it's not overly positive," O'Grady revealed. "I was talking with Belgian managers... they were all pretty gobsmacked as well. Remco's never been caught in a time trial in his life... It sounds like he just didn't know how to handle that."

With Evenepoel gone, the task of challenging Pogačar falls squarely on Team Visma | Lease a Bike and Jonas Vingegaard. “I think Team Visma... would be scratching their heads around the table... going, 'What else can we do?' They isolated Tadej the other day in the mountains, and then it completely backfired because he just blasted them all out the back door again.”

Looking ahead to a final week stacked with legendary climbs, including Mont Ventoux and the Col de la Loze, O'Grady questions if any weakness can be found.
“We've got some incredibly tough stages coming up, with none other than Mont Ventoux tomorrow, which is probably one of the most difficult mountains in this year's Tour. It's nearly a 10% average gradient for the whole way up; there's just nowhere to hide.”

While the battle for the lower steps of the podium remains fierce, O'Grady warns that Visma's relentless attacks could be a double-edged sword. "Are they blowing themselves up in the process? Probably... I think Visma has to be careful that they don't try too hard going for the win and end up losing the podium."

Ultimately, O'Grady believes Pogačar is no longer just racing his current rivals, but cycling's legends. "We are witnessing history. If he maintains this trajectory, he's going to be pushing Eddy Merckx for the GOAT award."  

"I have a feeling that Pogačar might go for all the jerseys... yellow... polka dot and potentially even take the green," a feat accomplished only by Merckx.

As for the Australian contingent, O'Grady calls out Ben O'Connor's ability to claw back five minutes yesterday to get back up to 12th. Following a quick chat with Ben, O'Grady shares "he's just trying to get inside the top 10. If he takes off, and does a couple more risky mountain moves, as he’s renowned for, then you know his objective will be to finish around fifth place." 

But the final word belongs to the man in yellow. "Tadej said in an interview, it's the best he’s ever felt on the bike, and that’s just scary. I’m glad I’m not out there!"



About Stuart O'Grady:  

A veteran of a remarkable 17 Tour de France campaigns, Stuart O'Grady provides a rare depth of experience from within the professional peloton. His career is a tapestry of triumphs and complexities, offering a nuanced understanding of the race's demands.

O'Grady's extensive Tour de France record includes multiple stage victories, nine days in the coveted yellow jersey, and a four-time runner-up in the green jersey competition for the points classification. His crowning moment on the road came with a victory in the brutal Paris-Roubaix classic in 2007.

Now, as a co-owner of the Official Tour Operator of the Tour de France, Mummu Cycling, O'Grady offers expert analysis and behind-the-scenes insights into the Tour de France. 

About Mummu Cycling: 

Mummu Cycling is the Tour de France’s official tour operator and a global leader in insider cycling experiences. With partners including Tour de France champion Cadel Evans and Paris-Roubaix winner and gold medalist Stuart O’Grady, Mummu Cycling designs journeys that connect fans to the heart of pro-cycling, from sign-on to champagne.