Tadej Pogacar admits 'riders are a little scared' of protests ahead of one-day races in Quebec and Montreal
Published 11/09/2025 at 10:27 GMT+1
Reigning Tour de France winner Tadej Pogacar has expressed his concern over potential protests ahead of his return to racing in Canada. Several stages of La Vuelta, the final Grand Tour of 2025, have been impacted by pro-Palestine protests. Pogacar, who has not raced since winning a fourth Tour in July, will compete in the one-day races in Quebec and Montreal on Friday and Sunday respectively.
Highlights: Pellizzari breaks professional duck ahead of battling Pidcock
Video credit: TNT Sports
Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) has admitted "riders are a little scared" of potential protests ahead of the Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec on Friday.
Pro-Palestine protests against the Israel-Premier Tech team have caused disruptions at La Vuelta in Spain.
Pogacar, who is making his first appearance since his dominant fourth Tour de France triumph, will race in Quebec before attempting to defend his victory at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montreal on Sunday.
"I think all the riders are a little scared of what could happen," Pogacar said in Quebec before Friday's Grand Prix. "We ride at full speed, we give it our all. This is a new problem that can happen to you.
"We don't talk about it, especially as a peloton, but between team-mates, yes. When we see what's going on at the Vuelta, we talk about it and we think it could happen here [in Quebec City and Montreal] or in other races between now and the end of the season."
Several stages of La Vuelta have been impacted.
There was no official winner of Stage 11, which featured a brilliant battle between Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling) and Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), after it was neutralised with 3km to go due to the protests.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/09/10/image-63dc76e6-4e4c-4508-9949-78c26b1aead3-85-2560-1440.png)
Vingegaard 'didn't feel 100%' as he 'survived' brutal climb - 'Not losing time is a good day'
Video credit: TNT Sports
Other stages have had to be shortened. The route for Thursday's individual time trial has also been reduced from 27km to just over 12km, although the start and finish points have not changed.
Race leader Vingegaard spoke about the situation ahead of Stage 17: "We are here to race and want to finish at the finish line and of course it’s really unfortunate we cannot do that. But people are in their right to protest and that’s just going [against] us."
Race organisers are still planning for the Grand Tour to wrap up in Madrid on Sunday, although there have been calls for it to be cancelled.
- Pidcock says he 'sacrificed the stage' to protect podium - 'A bit of a shame'
- Pellizzari storms to summit finish as Pidcock tightens grip on podium place
Joining Pogacar in Canada is Vingegaard’s Visma team-mate Wout van Aert, and the Belgian echoed the Tour winner's sentiments in expressing his own concern.
"At this point, a lot of riders are worried about these demonstrations but also about what is happening in the world," the Belgian said. "I am not really aware of what is going on here in Canada.
"I hope we will have a great race and a few hours of entertainment for everyone."
Watch top cycling, including La Vuelta and the one-day races in Quebec and Montreal, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+
Related Topics
Thoughts?
Advertisement
Advertisement