Pogacar dominates Tour with 340,000-Euro watch on wrist
Financially, cycling is lucrative for Tadej Pogacar, his salary at Team UAE Emirates is among the highest in the industry. It's no surprise then, that the Tour leader drives through France with a luxury item on his arm. However, his watch obsession has also caused troubles.
A house worth a family's fortune is what Tadej Pogacar carries on his wrist. The dominator of the Tour de France is a watch enthusiast and currently showcases a particularly special piece. The timepiece of a sponsor, elegantly adorned with a yellow band, costs around 340,000 Euro. It weighs only 32 grams, and the Formula-1 driver Carlos Sainz, a friend of Pogacar, owns a similar version.
"I love watches. And the opportunity to wear the model during the Tour thanks to a sponsor is very nice for me," said Pogacar. For comparison: The second-place finisher received 200,000 Euro, and the third-place finisher 100,000 Euro as prize money after three weeks of racing. At least: The winning prize of 500,000 Euro would have sufficed.
The overall leader of the Tour suggested that he did not buy the watch but only had it provided. Pogacar wears it during the stages, which is unusual in cycling. Moreover, it could break during a fall.
Theft at Paris-Nice remains in memory
Last year, Pogacar made headlines with his watch obsession, but he would have preferred to avoid it. During the Paris-Nice race, thieves gained access to his hotel room and stole a watch worth 165,000 Euro. "I will never forget this moment," said Pogacar.
The watch has not been found to this day, but the two men involved were sentenced to a four-year prison term. "The watch meant a lot to me. I find it amazing that they sold it so quickly without a box or documents," said Pogacar.
The two-time Tour winner has an emotional connection to his watches. The purchase price - assuming he had to pay it - would not deter him. The cycling star living in Monaco reportedly receives six million Euro from his team UAE every year.
Tadej Pogacar's love for watches extends beyond the Tour de France, as he also sported a valuable piece during Paris-Nice. Despite the theft of a 165,000 Euro watch during the Paris-Nice race, Pogacar's passion for horology remains undeterred, with cycling bringing in significant income for him.
Tadej Pogacar's cycling prowess in the Tour de France has earned him a spot among the highest-paid athletes in the industry, allowing him to indulge in his passion for expensive timepieces.
