Tadej Pogačar has played down the boos directed at him during another commanding victory at the Tour de France.
The Slovenian attacked on the Col de Pertus with approximately 15 kilometres remaining in Tuesday’s 10th stage before riding alone to the finish at Le Lioran.
Pogačar crossed the line 32 seconds ahead of Remco Evenepoel, while French teenager Paul Seixas completed the podium. The result extended Pogačar’s overall advantage over Jonas Vingegaard to 3 minutes and 36 seconds.
His performance was met largely with applause from the roadside crowds, but boos could also be heard as he passed some spectators during the closing kilometres.
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“I have haters and haters gonna hate,” Pogačar said, as quoted by The Guardian.
“To all the booers who are there, they just give more boost to my teammates. They put wood on the fire.”
Pogačar points to overwhelming support
Pogačar stressed that the hostile reaction came from only a small minority of spectators.
He described cycling supporters as among the best in sport and estimated that 99 percent of those lining the roads were cheering rather than booing.
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The 27-year-old also said he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic, who has frequently faced partisan crowds during his tennis career.
Pogačar explained that he thinks about the Serbian’s mentality when dealing with negative reactions and suggested that hostility can provide additional motivation rather than weaken him.
The yellow jersey had already addressed the crowd immediately after crossing the finish line.
“Thanks to all the fans who came today to the roadside. It was an amazing atmosphere,” Pogačar said, according to the Tour de France’s official collection of stage quotes.
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“And to the guys who are booing: they give us more power.”
French hopes disappear on Bastille Day
The stage took place on July 14, France’s national day, when victory by a home rider traditionally carries particular significance.
French riders were active throughout the mountainous route from Aurillac to Le Lioran, with Seixas eventually finishing third. However, nobody could follow Pogačar when he launched his decisive attack.
Pogačar suggested that some spectators may have been disappointed to see a foreign rider dominate a stage on such an important day for France.
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However, he also marked the occasion respectfully. Rather than producing an extravagant celebration, he pointed towards the Tour de France logo on his yellow jersey as he approached the finish.
“Then I remembered it’s Bastille Day and I tried to honour the Yellow Jersey,” he said.
The victory was Pogačar’s third of the 2026 Tour and the 24th Tour de France stage win of his career.
As described in the Tour de France’s official stage report, he also became the first rider to record three Tour stage victories on July 14.
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UAE had already heard boos on the Tourmalet
The reaction at Le Lioran was not the first time UAE Team Emirates-XRG riders had encountered hostility during this year’s race.
Pogačar’s teammate Tim Wellens said the team had also heard boos during stage six, when Pogačar attacked on the Col du Tourmalet and rode alone to victory at Gavarnie-Gèdre.
“Just last Thursday, on the Tourmalet, ‘boo-hoo’, everyone was shouting,” Wellens said, as quoted by CyclingUpToDate.
“We see the frustration in many people, but we don’t understand it. Not very pleasant, even a bit annoying. But anyway, we often laugh about it. It means we are doing something right.”
UAE’s control of the race has become a subject of debate after Pogačar established a sizeable advantage during the opening mountain stages.
The team also faced criticism for setting the pace behind the breakaway during stage nine, despite none of the leading riders posing a serious threat to Pogačar’s yellow jersey.
Wellens explained that UAE had been protecting its position in the team classification rather than attempting to prevent the breakaway from winning.
Dominance brings a different reaction
Pogačar has usually been one of the Tour’s most popular riders, admired for his attacking style and willingness to race aggressively throughout the season.
However, his growing superiority and UAE’s ability to control the peloton have begun to produce a less enthusiastic response from some supporters.
The Slovenian has already delivered two decisive solo victories during the first ten stages and now holds a considerable lead over Vingegaard, his principal rival for the overall title.
That dominance may have reduced some of the uncertainty surrounding the race, but Pogačar has made it clear that he will not apologise for trying to win.
For the overwhelming majority of spectators, he said, the atmosphere remains supportive. The small number choosing to boo are simply giving him and his teammates another reason to ride harder.
