https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/news/pogacar-delivers-7-w-kg-in-the-greatest-alpe-dhuez-ascent-ever/?hl=ko-KR Here is the translation.
Yesterday he recorded 7.0 for 35 minutes, but it may not be the best performance ever. The best record was Pogacar's own Tour de France two years ago, 40 minutes and 6.98
At that time, it was a record after 185km of riding, so it was even more amazing..
[Pogacar records 7 W/kg on the greatest Alpe d'Huez uphill]
We just witnessed one of the greatest performances in cycling history. It may not be the absolute #1 (we'll explain that later), but it's definitely in the top ranks.
When Tadej Pogačar attacked with 12km to go on Alpe d'Huez, we all knew what he was trying to do. This Slovenian rider wasn't just trying to drop rivals, win the stage, or secure the overall Tour de France victory. He was aiming for the fastest time ever recorded up Alpe d'Huez.
Marco Pantani's 36 minutes and 40 seconds [Note: Calculated based on a 13.8km measurement method] has stood unbroken for 30 years.
All eyes were on the yellow jersey (maillot jaune) in Tour de France Stage 19, and we already had a feeling something special was about to happen. Whether it was the early breakaway group, the summer heat, or the UAE Emirates-XRG team being hit with a cold/illness, none of it mattered to Tadej Pogačar. He was there to set a new record.
The stage from Gap to Alpe d'Huez was relatively short at 128km, and a large breakaway group had a lead of 3 minutes and 30 seconds when they reached the start of the final climb (Sicio). Tadej Pogačar didn't take long to make his move, though other riders led the pace for the first kilometer of Alpe d'Huez.
The yellow jersey attacked in his signature style, sitting in the saddle and unleashing power exceeding 7 W/kg for five minutes, creating a decisive gap. But he didn't seem to care what was happening behind him. In fact, it's questionable whether Pogačar ever looked back once during the final climb. He just focused on maintaining the strongest pace he could for as long as possible.
He eventually caught up with his teammate Adam Yates midway up the climb. The Brit had been pulling hard until he could barely turn the pedals anymore, and then Pogačar continued his solo ride at 7 W/kg.
With a few kilometers left to the finish, Pogačar chased down the breakaway leaders, where Richard Carapaz and Lenny Martinez were making their final attacks. The Slovenian hero relentlessly followed the lead group, and as the gradient eased, the three riders merged into one. The Strava KOM was already completely destroyed, but there was still about 1km left to the finish line.
Pogačar attacked first, then second, pushing his pedals hard until a clear gap opened up behind him. He crossed the finish line with both arms raised, his face devoid of any grimace, almost nonchalantly shrugging his shoulders. It all looked so easy, but Tadej Pogačar had just set a new record for the fastest Alpe d'Huez climb ever.
Pogačar didn't just break the record; he **crushed** it by more than a minute. He set the Alpe d'Huez Strava KOM with an average VAM (ascending speed) of 1,937 Vm/h and averaged around 1,900 Vm/h for the entire climb.
[Pogacar - Alpe d'Huez climbing record numbers]
Time: 35 minutes 27 seconds
Estimated average power: ~6.9 W/kg
Alpe d'Huez Strava KOM: 32 minutes 26 seconds (~7 W/kg)
Pogačar's ride is undoubtedly one of the greatest performances ever on Alpe d'Huez. However, numerically speaking, there may be some debate about whether it was his best performance ever.
Stage 19 of this year's Tour de France was relatively less demanding than Stage 15 of the 2024 Tour, where Pogačar dominated the competition on Plateau de Beille. At that time, the Slovenian rider recorded a similar estimated power output of 7 W/kg for 40 minutes, but it came after riding 185km, not 120km.
Furthermore, the fact that there were no challengers to Pogačar today may have inadvertently slowed his pace slightly. With no one chasing him, his ride essentially became a 30-minute individual time trial (TT). A strong competitor or two beside him would have likely boosted his motivation and pace even further.
But that seems like something we'll have to look forward to in the next Tour de France season. Tomorrow's stage also finishes on Alpe d'Huez, but it will take a much easier route up the opposite side of the infamous 21 hairpin bends.
Whether Pogačar is stronger than his prime or not remains unclear, but he seems more comfortable and relaxed than ever while dismantling the Tour de France.
