Tadej Pogačar has set a new Strava KOM on Spain’s iconic Coll de Rates climb, posting a time of 12:21 and surpassing Peter Øxenberg Hansen’s previous best by 17 seconds. The World Champion was completing a final training ride with UAE Emirates teammates as they wrap up a winter camp in the Costa Blanca region.
Pogačar’s record-breaking effort has taken down the KOM previously held by Jonas Vingegaard, who set a time of 13:02 in 2018 during a team time trial with his former team, ColoQuick. Vingegaard, who went on to sign with Jumbo-Visma, is said to have been inspired by the climb’s challenge when making the move.
While Vingegaard’s 2018 time was long seen as a benchmark, it was briefly held by UAE’s Juan Ayuso with a time of 12:49 before being reclaimed by ColoQuick’s Øxenberg Hansen in March 2024, who set a new mark at 12:38. Øxenberg Hansen has since signed with Ineos Grenadiers for the 2025 season.
The Coll de Rates segment has become a point of pride for ColoQuick, with team manager Christian Moberg highlighting its importance to their team culture. However, it’s unclear if the Danish squad will return in 2025 to try to reclaim the KOM.
Pogačar’s latest achievement comes as a fitting close to his winter training, sharing his ride with the caption “Going Home” on Strava. While Cycling Weekly reached out to Vingegaard’s team, Jumbo-Visma, to ask if the Danish rider might challenge Pogačar’s time next year, the team humorously dismissed the idea, stating they were “not in it for the KOMs.
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