Hinault defends Pogacar on doping: "Attacked only because he's not French"

Rome, 23 April 2025 - The two second places obtained at the Paris-Roubaix 2025 and above all to the Amstel Gold Race 2025, with the annexed failed escape attempt from very far away, have returned a more 'human' image of Tadej pogacar, who evidently like all athletes has his bad days and feels the tiredness of previous efforts. Yet, the name of the Slovenian is often associated with suspicions as serious as they are unfortunately recurrent in cycling, those related to the use of prohibited substances to improve one's performance: in defense of the world champion, Bernard Hinault, the last Frenchman to have won the Tour.  

Hinault's statements

It was the year 1985 and the 'Tasso' he imposed himself in the home race, unaware that from then on a curse would begin that would last almost 40 years. Since then, however, transalpine cycling has still had some success and in recent years it has done so thanks to Julian Alaphilippe, lord of the Classics and one-day races before the advent of the current generation of phenomena: the name of the runner of the Tudor Pro Cycling Team it is intertwined with that of Hinault, which during the broadcast 'The Big Mouths of Sport' he came to the defense of pogacar, also putting aside that parochialism that notoriously characterizes the French. "I find it ridiculous that people always cast suspicion on foreign riders". The former champion began in this way in response to the words uttered a few days ago by Jean-Rene Bernaudeau, the sporting director of Team TotalEnergies who had asked for more guarantees in the checks related specifically to the Slovenian. "It's not because we're not winning that others are cheating: we have to stop." The intervention of Hinault he becomes even more piqued and determined. "Why is it always the French who insinuate doubt? Isn't it strange? I never see this happen to Italian, Belgian or Spanish teams. This is how we are killing this sport. When there is no evidence, we should shut up. pogacar it is controlled how much and how the team's runners Bernaudeau. In fact, maybe it is even more so because he wins. So, I think it's time to put an end to this story". In the Breton's speech he then enters Alaphilippe. "There is another reason why I find it ridiculous to always discredit foreign runners. What would we do if pogacar was French? When Alaphilippe he won Classics e World Cup, has anyone ever questioned his performance? Personally - he concludes Hinault - It always hurts me to hear these things."

Ciccone's statements

Meanwhile, a day later the fine is still being discussed (250 Swiss francs e 15 Uci points) imposed on Julius Ciccone after throwing his glasses (his classic celebration) for the stage won at Tour of the Alps 2025. "We can say that this victory, also considering the value of the glasses (200 €, ed.), cost me dearly. We could talk about the topic at length, but my mistake was not having studied the rules. But if we are talking about ruining the image of this sport - concludes the Abruzzese - then I totally disagree".

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