German amateur doctor beats Tadej Pogacar in his own Pogi Challenge, leaving the Tour champion eighth

The Pogi Challenge format

The second edition of the Pogi Challenge took place on Sunday in Komenda, the Slovenian town where Tadej Pogacar grew up. More than 1,177 amateur cyclists lined up for a 15.13-kilometre climb to Krvavec, a mountain with an average gradient of 7.9 percent and 1,177 metres of elevation gain. Before the ascent, participants rode 9.05 kilometres from Komenda to the foot of the hill, cheered by crowds. The rules gave the amateurs a seven-minute head start; Pogacar, starting from behind, had to chase them down on a course that included a reserved lane on the left. The event was the climax of a three-day festival that began on Friday with a criterium (won by Pogacar) and continued Saturday with a family day and children's races. The challenge raises funds for charitable associations.

Niessen's winning ride

Frederik Niessen, a 30-year-old German doctor who specialises in ultra-cycling and coaches road and gravel riders, crossed the line first in 45 minutes 49 seconds. He had already won a tough mountain race at the Grossglockner in Austria earlier this year. Niessen had printed his favourite photo of Pogacar and attached it to his bike.

I looked at it every time I felt pain. I think it helped me.

Italian Andrea Calza took second in 47'28", and Slovenian Miran Kovačič placed third in 48'27"3. In total, seven amateurs finished ahead of Pogacar, who recorded a time of 49'51" and placed eighth. Last year, only one rider, British lawyer Andrew Feather, managed to beat the world champion in the inaugural edition, arriving three minutes ahead.

Pogacar: "I suffered"

Pogacar, who won his fifth Tour de France just weeks earlier, did not hide his discomfort. Speaking to Slovenian television, he explained that a large traffic jam and a crash at the bottom of the climb slowed his pursuit.

There was a huge traffic jam at the bottom and also a crash. I used the first two kilometres to chat with the other riders.

He added that he had slept poorly in the days before the race. "Then I suffered." Despite the loss, he congratulated Niessen on his performance.

A festival, not a professional race

The Pogi Challenge is a charity event designed to let fans ride alongside their idol. The weekend included a criterium on Friday, which Pogacar won, followed by an evening where he entertained thousands of supporters by riding a unicycle on stage to Eminem's music. Saturday was dedicated to families, with children's races and other activities. The climb itself, known as "S Klanca v Klanc" (a play on the name of Pogacar's home village and the Slovenian word for a steep ascent), is described by organisers as the hill that shaped his career.

What comes next

Pogacar's next competitive outing is likely to be the Vuelta a España, which starts on 22 August in Monaco, where he now lives. The Spanish Grand Tour is the only three-week race missing from his palmarès, and his participation, while not yet officially confirmed, is widely expected.