Updated July 24, 2026 11:53AM
Tadej Pogačar Destroys Alpe d'Huez Record with One of the Best Climbing Performances in History
Power estimates suggest Pogačar dominated stage 19 of the Tour de France with a climbing attack that underlines his GOAT status.
(Photo: Tim de Waele/Getty Images))
Tadej Pogačar all-but sealed a record-equaling fifth Tour de France title with a 35-minute, 7 w/kg attack on Alpe d’Huez that reaffirmed who is the GOAT.
Per estimates from data guru Na1chaca, Pogačar’s sledgehammer attack Friday on stage 19 of the Tour de France averaged 6.99w/kg for 35 minutes 27 seconds.
Assuming Pogačar weighs in at around 63kg, that’s 440 watts.
Have you ever tried pushing that hard for 30 seconds?
Our advice – don’t.
Na1chaca’s calculations suggest Pogačar climbed the 13.7km, 8.1 percent climb at 23.2kph – maybe the speed of your Sunday coffee ride.
For those paying close attention, Na1chaca used a slightly shorter segment than the full 13.8km Alpe, but that’s splitting hairs.
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Pogačar obliterates Pantani climbing records on Alpe d’Huez
Pogačar’s outrageous performance Friday on Alpe d’Huez rivals his mindblowing climb of Plateau de Beille in 2024, which is rated by Velo’s power sleuth Zach Nehr as the greatest in history.
Pogačar climbed the Plateau de Belle on stage 15 of the 2024 Tour de France in 39:30 at an estimated 7 w/kg. That’s a similar power output to Friday’s 19th stage, albeit for a 10 percent longer time.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean the 2024 performance was “better”.
Comparing Pogačar’s performance on Alpe d’Huez to that of Plateau de Beille is complicated by the fact that the latter climbed arrived after a harder stage, but earlier into that year’s race.
Weather, wind speeds, and the draft of nearby riders also play a part in data estimates reverse-engineered from times, gradients, and weights.
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One thing that’s not in doubt is that Pogačar added another marquee climbing record to his palmarès on Friday.
He climbed the 13.8km Alpe in 35:27, shaving a hefty 1:24 and 1:28 from the best marks that Marco Pantani recorded in 1995 and 1997 respectively.
Pogačar continues to redefine what’s possible at the Tour de France, and he has done since 2024.
The 27-year-old is now only two days away from joining the five-time winner’s club of Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain.
If he does it, he’ll be the first to join that elite list in 31 years.