Retired Irish professional cyclist Dan Martin has shed light on the origins of his playful and often cutting Twitter exchanges with two-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar. In an interview this week, Martin explained that their light-hearted online jabs stem from a deeply rooted respect and a competitive bond forged during their early encounters — long before Pogačar became a household name in the sport.
Martin recalled first meeting a teenage Pogačar at a UAE Team Emirates training camp, in the year before the Slovenian phenom officially turned professional. At the time, Martin had just signed with UAE Team Emirates as one of its marquee leaders, while Pogačar was an unknown amateur — a young rider brought into the camp more for experience than expectation.
But Martin was quickly taken aback.
“Even then, he was different,” Martin said. “I remember thinking, ‘Who is this kid?’ He was the only one who could — and would — attack me on the climbs. I was fighting to hold his wheel, and he wasn’t even racing with the pros yet.”
Though Pogačar was still far from the international spotlight, Martin said his talent and mindset were immediately apparent. “He had that calm aggression, the kind of quiet confidence you rarely see in someone that young.”
As the years passed and Pogačar blossomed into one of the sport’s brightest stars — winning two Tours de France, a monument or two, and becoming one of the most dominant stage racers in a generation — Martin transitioned into retirement. But their friendship remained strong, often manifesting through witty, sometimes sarcastic Twitter exchanges that fans have come to enjoy.
“It’s a bit of a Punch and Judy show,” Martin laughed. “I try to keep him grounded, take him down a notch here and there — but I usually fail. He always fires back harder, and it keeps me on my toes, even now.”
Despite the public banter, Martin made it clear that beneath the teasing lies genuine admiration and affection. He sees himself as an informal mentor of sorts to Pogačar, a role he assumed ever since that first camp.
“I just wanted to help him. I knew he had something special, and if I could give him even a little bit of perspective or guidance, it was worth it. Watching him grow into who he is today — it’s been a privilege.”
Their dynamic — part mentor-mentee, part sparring partners — reflects a deeper culture within cycling, where generations often overlap and bonds transcend competition.
As for the Twitter jabs? Expect them to continue.
“It’s all in good fun,” Martin said. “He gives as good as he gets. Probably better.”
