Tour de France leader Tadej Pogačar says he turns to Novak Djokovic’s example whenever he is met with boos from spectators, drawing inspiration from the Serbian tennis star’s mental resilience.
After securing his third stage victory of this year’s Tour de France and extending his lead in the overall standings, the Slovenian cyclist was asked about occasional negative reactions from fans during the race.
Pogačar said he thinks about Djokovic during those moments, pointing to the tennis champion’s ability to handle criticism and hostile crowds throughout his career.
“When that happens, I always think about tennis and about Novak Djokovic,” Pogačar said. “I believe he has had one of the toughest careers when it comes to dealing with boos and criticism, sometimes without any reason, despite being one of the greatest athletes. When people boo me, I think about Novak and try to learn from his mental strength.”
Pogačar said Djokovic’s ability to remain focused under pressure has become a source of motivation for him, especially during difficult moments in competition.
The Slovenian rider also noted that cycling presents a different dynamic than tennis. While tennis fans often support one player over another, cycling races involve large groups of riders competing together, making it less clear who the crowd is reacting to.
“In tennis, it’s one against one, so the crowd is usually divided between the two players,” Pogačar explained. “In cycling, when someone boos, it often feels like they’re reacting to the entire group because we’re all riding together.”
Pogačar’s comments highlight the respect he has for Djokovic, whose mental toughness and ability to perform under intense pressure have earned praise from athletes across multiple sports.
