“Pogi earns his millions, while I earn my own ‘loose change’”: Urška Žigart hits back at Pogačar income ‘praise’; Tadej back on bike after Vuelta crash; Rider cleared over doping; Andy Murray’s Lego bike; Cycle lane investigation + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
“Pogi earns his millions, while I earn my own ‘loose change’”: Urška Žigart hits back at sexist ‘praise’ for “racing for peanuts and injuries” after breaking jaw in crash
Top tip: Don’t piss off Urška Žigart on social media.
The AG Insurance-Soudal pro may be spending her first week of recovery, after fracturing her jaw for the second time this year at the Faun Tour Femmes, sharing funny videos of her fiancé (who happens to be decent at racing bikes, too) on Instagram.
But that doesn’t mean she won’t fire back at you if you make senseless comments under her posts. Just ask sebastjan7588, who decided to share, for some unknown reason, his thoughts about Žigart’s racing career and her partner’s income.
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“Pogi earns millions, fair play to you for racing for loose change and injuries. Take care of your health dear Urška,” Sebastjan wrote under AG Insurance Soudal’s post confirming the extent of the Slovenian’s injuries, which will likely see her 2026 campaign brought to an abrupt help.
While most of the other comments were supportive, that rather baffling remark was given short shrift by Žigart herself.
“That’s right,” she replied. “Pogi earns his millions, while I earn my own ‘peanuts’.
“But if couples like us break up, we are always ‘hellish hags, who only want money but did nothing for it’. So yeah… You take care of yourself and your wife, I will take care of myself.”
You tell ‘em, Urška.
Unsurprisingly, Sebastjan didn’t respond (though one fan did suggest that Žigart wasn’t the one who deserved a broken jaw. Ouch.)
The 29-year-old is expected to miss the rest of the season following her crash at the Faun Tour Femmes at the weekend, the second time she’s fractured her jaw this year, following an earlier crash at the Tour de Suisse in June.
She recovered in time to race the Tour de France Femmes, but wasn’t able to build on her impressive results at cycling’s other grand tours this year, where she finished sixth overall at the Vuelta and eighth at the Giro.
Žigart’s season-ending crash at the Faun Tour came after two top ten places which left her sitting in third overall, her latest injury bringing an abrupt conclusion to arguably the best year of her career so far.
But at least now she has some time to school any Pogačar-obsessed trolls on social media. And spend some time with her injured fiancé too, of course.
“Collarbone strong, head strong, heart rate high”: Tadej Pogačar is back on his bike (indoors), over two weeks after season-ending Vuelta crash
Guess who’s back, back again?
(Come on, I couldn’t start a story about the best bike racer on earth’s return to the turbo trainer without a reference to his favourite early noughties rapper, could I?)
Tadej Pogačar is back on his bike – or at least the indoor version – this week, just 17 days on from his season-ending crash at the Vuelta a España.
In an Instagram reel posted last night, the five-time Tour de France winner, still sporting a black eye from the crash, can be seen spinning his legs on his home trainer, telling the camera: “First time back. Collarbone strong, head strong, heart rate high. And super happy, let’s go.”
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Well, it wouldn’t be a pro cyclist social media post without the phrase ‘super happy’, would it?
To be fair, Pogačar has just cause to be super happy, with his recovery seemingly going to plan after his 2026 – a season shaping up to be one of the greatest of all time – was brought to an abrupt halt with around 31km remaining on stage eight of the Vuelta to Xeraco, when he lost control of his bike after hitting something on the road.
The Slovenian had been leading the Spanish grand tour (the only three-week race he’s yet to win) by almost four minutes when he crashed out, having won three stages during a typically dominant opening week.
Pogačar suffered a stable fracture to his neck, a broken collarbone, and concussion in the nasty spill. Due to the concussion, he was forced to wait two days to undergo surgery on the collarbone, and despite some speculation he could recover in time to perhaps defend his Il Lombardia title, the world champion was forced to pull the pin on his season early.
And while there will be no attempt to win a third straight world title in Montreal next week, the UAE Team Emirates leader is at least fit enough to resume some form of training before the winter properly hits.
Those long, boring hours on the turbo trainer will at least be helped by the presence of his partner Urška Žigart, who is facing her own recovery process after fracturing her jaw (for the second time this year) at the Faun Tour Femmes last week.
“Not quite how we planned to spend September,” Pogačar posted.
“At least we have good company. A big thank you to our teams, families, friends and all of you for the amazing support. We are very grateful.”
Alongside his riveting turbo trainer footage, the Slovenian uploaded an image of his collarbone stitches (delightful), selfies from his hospital bed, and photos of him in a sling and looking battered and bruised while enjoying an ice cream.
He also shared a screenshot of his Whoop recovery stats, which took quite the dip after he faceplanted the road at high speed in Spain:
To be honest, that’s still probably better than my score after a day on the live blog.
Ouch… Uruguayan cyclist “doing well” after horror crash into barriers during South American Games time trial
The Uruguayan cyclist at the centre of a viral clip showing her colliding head-first with the barriers during the women’s time trial at the South American Games is feeling “well”, she says.
Mariana Garcia, a two-time Uruguayan national time trial champion, was racing towards the finish of yesterday’s South American Games TT in the Argentinian city of Rafaela when she rode straight into barriers that were jutting out into the road.
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That’s what they call in the business, ‘pulling a Stefan Küng’.
Similarly to Küng’s controversial crash at the 2023 European championships, Garcia was riding with her head down, in a tight aero tuck, right at the point where the placement of the barriers, for some reason, changed, significantly narrowing the road.
Garcia was unable to continue, the 37-year-old left bloodied, bruised, and dazed by the crash, which – because it’s a crash in a bike race – has gone viral around the world.
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Thankfully, Garcia posted on social media last night that she’s feeling better, while thanking those who treated her following her crash.
“I’m doing well, regarding my bone density and my desire to defend the opportunity I missed to show my drive to give it my all right to the finish line in the time trial,” she said. “I thank you from the bottom of my heart and ask for your patience as I process this bitter experience.”
“I think you have to be loyal, first and foremost, to your nation”: Philippe Gilbert brands Tim Wellens “disloyal” and “out of touch with reality” over refusal to race for Belgium at world championships
It’s all kicking off over in Belgium, where former world champion Philippe Gilbert has publicly criticised Tim Wellens’ refusal to race for the national team at this year’s worlds in Canada, due to an agreement he made with his UAE Team Emirates squad.
Wellens, on paper, would have been a very valuable domestique for Remco Evenepoel and Wout van Aert on the hilly Montreal course that will decide the fate of this year’s rainbow jersey. However, last month, the 35-year-old informed the Belgian federation that he would be available for selection.
Wellens said he was ill after the Tour de France and asked his UAE bosses if he could miss the Renewi Tour to properly rest, promising to skip the worlds and prioritise his trade team’s end of season programme.
Since indicating his willingness to forgo the trip to Canada, Wellens has shown he’s on flying form, winning the Tour of Britain earlier this month. That form reportedly prompted Evenepoel to urge Wellens to reconsider, while the two-time national champion even admitted he’s had second thoughts.
“Ten years ago I would have done anything to be in the squad,” Wellens said last week. “Now I am further along in my career and perhaps have different priorities.”
The whole debacle has kicked off a proper club versus country row in Belgium, with Gilbert – who won the 2012 worlds for Belgium in Valkenburg – weighing in with some harsh words for his compatriot.
“I think you have to be loyal, first and foremost, to your nation,” the retired classics star told broadcaster RTL.
“Employers, he has had several, and he will maybe have others before the end of his career, but your nation remains the same. So I think you have to be loyal to your nation, and here he is not, because his arguments don’t hold up.”
Gilbert also rubbished claims that Wellens was initially conflicted by the prospect of racing against his UAE leader Tadej Pogačar, who will now miss Montreal after crashing out of the Vuelta.
“Even if Pogačar was there, it would not stop him working for a Belgian team that’s in a dream scenario, with two in-form leaders and a route that suits them. I would have dreamt of being part of that adventure,” he said.
“Later, he’ll realise what he’s said and he’ll say ‘that wasn’t the right decision’, because I’m not so sure that he’ll be invited back to the national team so quickly.
“During my World Championships, my opponents were teammates on my trade team. Cadel Evans, for example… he became world champion in Mendrisio, where I finished sixth. But I did give my best there for the Belgian team. You do that for your country, that is what counts.
“I respect Tim, but I completely disagree with his reasoning and his position. I get the feeling that he is completely out of touch with reality.”
Ben Turner leaves Netcompany Ineos to form part of Soudal Quick-Step’s classics revamp
Another terribly kept transfer secret was confirmed today, with the news that Ben Turner has agreed a three-year deal with Soudal Quick-Step, bringing his career-long association with Netcompany Ineos to an end.
Turner turned pro with the British squad in 2022, establishing himself as a versatile rider capable of competing in sprints, on punchy courses, and at the classics.
The 27-year-old has won three times so far, including a breakthrough grand tour stage at last year’s Vuelta a España, while he’s also finished in the top ten at Brabantse Pijl and Dwars door Vlaanderen, and 11th at Paris-Roubaix.
Turner joins the Belgian squad (set to be renamed Soudal Safety Jogger next year) as it turns its attention back towards its traditional bread and butter, the classics, after a few years plugging away at the grand tours in support of Remco Evenepoel.
“Obviously, for me it’s a big privilege to join Soudal Quick-Step, a team which I’ve always dreamed of being part of since being small and watching the classics together with my dad,” Turner said in a statement today.
“Even after I turned professional, it was a team I was always looking at to see what they were doing in the races and always keeping an eye on them.
“After discussing with Jurgen [Foré, CEO] and the team, I realized quickly that we are on the same page, that’s why I’m super excited to be part of this organisation from 2027.
“I want to develop myself into a better rider here, try to win races, and help the squad get victories. I’m looking forward to being part of this environment and racing for Soudal Quick-Step, it’s something that gives me a massive motivation for next season.”
Colombian cyclist Germán Darío Gómez cleared of doping charges nine months after positive test for steroid announced
It’s been a long old season for Germán Darío Gómez, who was cleared this week of a doping charges by the UCI, nine months after he was provisionally suspended.
Back in January, the UCI announced that the Polti VisitMalta rider had tested positive for Boldenone, an anabolic steroid primarily used on livestock, in an out-of-competition test while at home in Colombia.
Gómez first came to the attention of cycling fans as a junior back in 2019, when the TV cameras captured him crying at side of the road at the Harrogate world championships, when he was left stranded after his tubular came off his wheel and his team car was too far back to provide him with a spare bike.
At the time of his positive test in December, Gómez was recovering from broken collarbone sustained in a crash caused by a motorist during a training ride.
After being suspended by both the UCI and his team in January, the 25-year-old vociferously protested his innocence, insisting that his “behaviour, both in and outside racing itself, has always been both exemplary and transparent”.
“I was notified of the result in the morning of January 27 that I had an adverse analytical finding for Boldenone, a substance which, according to scientific criteria, is used in livestock farming to improve both physical agility and an increase in weight and muscle mass,” he said at the time (Boldenone can also promote faster recovery, and increase muscle mass and red blood cell production, which is why it’s banned).
“Cycling has given me everything, it’s been the central pillar of my life. For that reason, I’ve never considered malpractice to obtain an advantage. It’s never been, nor will it be, the route to obtain an objective.”
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However, after missing the entire 2026 season following the positive test, it was reported this week that Gómez has been cleared of all doping charges and is free to race once again.
“It has never been a path I have taken to achieve a goal, and it never will be,” he said in a statement.
The climber, whose best pro result so far is sixth on a stage of last year’s Tour of Turkey, is reportedly set to return to Europe as early as next week to resume his career with Polti VistMalta.
Commuting week continues: More top tips for your ride to work (that don’t involve Liam wearing a suit)
Tadej and Urška enter their “funny era”
We can’t get away from these two today…
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Does “stress less” mean fewer race wins and more TikTok-inspired clips? I don’t know which of those scenarios I prefer, if I’m honest.
“I took my stabilisers off when I was two. That’s the youngest of any ranked tennis player. The media didn’t report on it, but the data’s there”: Andy Murray (at his droll best) stars in latest Lego bike ad
Lego are really pulling out all the stops for their fancy wee bike, aren’t they? I think we may have reached peak Andy Murray here:
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“I had no intention of going cycling today”: What I say every evening after work when I wheel the bike back into the shed at the first drop of rain…
But, but, but… nobody ever uses the cycle lanes!
Over in Limerick, one cyclist (and her tiny, fluffy co-investigator) decided to put some local motorists’ claims that the city’s Shannon Bridge cycle lane was “unused” to the test. And guess what she found? Cyclists, lots of cyclists:
Shannon bridge cycle lane investigation. The talent was hard to work with, but we got through it.
— Aislínn Kelly (@aislinnkellyy.bsky.social) September 15, 2026 at 8:53 PM
End of an era
I’ll admit, I shed a tear when I saw this. Magnus Cort, the peloton’s very own Alex Polizzi, has submitted the final grand tour hotel review of his stellar career (which also involved racing bikes, apparently).
And, fittingly, the moustachioed Dane, retiring this winter after 13 years as a pro, went out on a high in Granada. Minus the missing bath plug, of course…
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Well, it wouldn’t be a Magnus Cort hotel inspection without one eagle-eyed observation, would it? Cheers for all the reviews (and attacks), Magnus.
Is Lycra really faster than an ill-fitting suit?
It’s Commuting Week here at road.cc and we’ve been spending the first few days answering the really important questions when it comes to cycling to work.
Like… What does our resident YouTuber Liam look like in a suit?
> How much faster is cycling kit? Riding to work in full Lycra vs normal clothes
The answer? Like he’s just stolen his dad’s clothes.
I reckon Liam missed a trick not starting that video with: ‘I am a man, who has recently bought a house in the local area…’
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Latest Comments
It's a bit scary to know the UK justice system let's people off with a slap on the wrist for attempted manslaughter! I don't think I'll be riding a bike if I visit your fair country! That was unbelievable!
@Terry Hutt quit with the jibba-jabba
@chrisonabike Do you have to be riding a 40kg cast iron bike to trigger them? Or will they also work with those emaciated wraiths that dance by me talking with each other on a 10% climb? I want to make the f*ckers wait until I catch up to trigger the light for them.
@mdavidford Considering the way they've absolutely declared war on them, seems more like their sworn enemy.
@mitsky As it states in the article:
@Terry Hutt I believe you may want what's known as "standard Dutch (cycle) infra". Although in that case the detection loops work by being on the cycle path (so no need for clever tech to distinguish car from bike). The more modern installations have detection some distance from lights so they can instruct the lighting controllers to set the motor traffic signals to red when possible; often meaning the cycle signals are green when you arrive!
@Mr Blackbird sorry (he said it first, as "why we can't all be cyclists"). Eric is a bit picky nowadays so can't help with your food waste. Of course for all I know he could also have all kinds of health conditions, aside from / as a result of suffering from politicaldinneritis. (Which is one of the many occupational hazards afflicting hard-working MPs / Lords, including dodgysecondhomes disorder and accidentally over-claiming expenses).
With regards to Chris Boardman's bit on ITV/GMB... I would have preferred it if he simply paused the interview to get them to state that they were wrong, get them to repeat their admission a further two times for the sake of their own clarity and for viewers' understanding then simply say "Thank you. Based on this absolute nonsense that you are spreading with a straight face, I am ending this interview now. Next time, get your facts straight." And then end the call.
@mdavidford as are spell checkers and dictionaries!
Utmost respect for Chris Boardman. He is a great ambassador for waking, wheeling and cycling, and I don't know how he bites his tongue dealing with the likes of Madley.
13 thoughts on ““Pogi earns his millions, while I earn my own ‘loose change’”: Urška Žigart hits back at Pogačar income ‘praise’; Tadej back on bike after Vuelta crash; Rider cleared over doping; Andy Murray’s Lego bike; Cycle lane investigation + more on the live blog”
A bit of factual correctness about ebikes vs motorbikes in the press today, in the Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/sep/15/ebike-powerful-illegal-engine-roads-cyclist
BBC, Telegraph, Mail etc, do try to take note.
@lesterama
I wonder if there will ever come a day when specialist motorcycle journalists and news outlets find themselves constantly battling ‘mainstream’ outlets and colleagues, to get them to distinguish between legitimate, legal motorbikes, ridden by upstanding citizens according to the relevant laws and norms, and the illegal e-motorbikes ridden by wrong ‘uns in a dangerous and anti-social manner.
@lesterama
Very nicely worded article, there, from Peter Walker (a k.a. Peter Pedestrian 😉)
The Guardian article says all electric bikes that can go faster than 15.5mph are illegal. Is it not the case that if they have the likes of insurance and vehicle tax they are in fact legal? Not that I think many do.
@Surreyrider They absolutely are legal if they have type approval, VED, numberplates, MOT and insurance and the rider has the appropriate licence but then they cease to be e-bikes and become electric mopeds or electric motorcycles.
@Rendel Harris Thanks. Take your point there. As mentioned I don’t think many, if any, that I see doing 30mph+ have any of those.
@Surreyrider The nuance that the Police didn’t get recently was that unregistered untaxed and uninsured electric bikes – that provide assistance – above 15.5mph are illegal.
@Surreyrider The Guardian article does not say that “all electric bikes that can go faster than 15.5mph are illegal” – it says that the ‘powered speed limit’ of electric bikes is 15.5mph. It’s perfectly legal to pedal an electric bike faster than 15.5mph. Only pointing this out because I’ve seen this misunderstanding of the legality of electric bikes going faster than 15.5mph a few times now.
“Pogi races for millions while you race for loose change and injuries” – maybe I’m being too charitable but my first impression on reading that was that it was saying isn’t it unfair that Pog gets millions whilst you, Urska, do the same thing but only get (comparative) chicken feed and still get injured just like he does. It’s at least a possible interpretation, in my opinion.
@Rendel Harris at first my thought as well but on second reading it is the old condescending and misogynistic statement masquerading as sympathy. Also an unhelpful comment in the context that they are a couple. He/she frames cycling as a monetary contest and belittles, perhaps unknowingly, her and everyone else’s efforts as pointless because they don’t make as much. The “take care of your health dear” implies she doesn’t belong here and should stay home and take up knitting.
@Blackthorne83 Certainly that’s one way of interpreting it but I’m still not sure, mentioning the contrast between the amounts they earn could be belittling but equally could be intended to point out the inequality; regarding the “take care of your health dear”, if it just said that, using “dear” as a pronoun, I would agree that’s full on patronising sexism, but it does say “take care of your health dear Urska” which could simply be intended to convey affection/admiration. From the spelling of his username I’m guessing the poster does not have English as his first language so that may also have affected the register. Quite possible that your interpretation is correct but I think I would still leave the jury out.
@Rendel Harris I agree with you that the intent was not to patronise. But in the end of the day they seem to imply that the whole premise of cycling is unfair in that her fiancée is somehow undeserving of his millions while others toil away for the scraps. Who knows.
@Blackthorne83 Or it implies that cycling is unfair because although her fiancé deserves his millions she ought to be getting something like the same?
I did look on Instagram to see if he’d come back with some explanation but couldn’t see one nor his original comment. What is slightly surprising is that Urska picked that comment out of a rich selection of patronising sexist tripe, if I were to choose one I think the guy who said “Your injury is God’s sign that it’s time to prioritise looking after your husband and not your career” was most deserving.