Funny thing about Ziggart, sometimes it's hard to be her boyfriend.

A video featuring cyclist Tadej Pogačar has gone viral after he humorously portrayed himself as the boyfriend of his fiancée, Urška Žigart, during the Women's Tour de France. The clip, filmed by Belgian journalist Linde Merckpoel for the show Allez Les Femmes, quickly amassed over two million views and more than 140,000 likes on social media. The video shows Pogačar in a lighthearted role, supporting Žigart as she competes in the race, and highlights the unique dynamic between the couple. The idea for the video had been brewing for some time. According to Merckpoel, the concept was initially considered unlikely to materialize until former Dutch professional cyclist Marijn de Vries, who is now a cycling analyst, pushed for it. De Vries believed in the idea despite initial skepticism from Merckpoel. After learning that Pogačar would attend the Women’s Tour to support Žigart, Merckpoel reached out through Matteo, a public relations representative from AG Insurance-Soudal, the team Žigart rides for. The response was positive, though time was limited as the race approached its final stages. “The night before the last stage, Matteo told us we had about a 55% chance,” Merckpoel recalled. The following morning brought confirmation. The team headed to the location where Pogačar was expected to appear, near the caravan where Žigart and Pogačar’s family van was parked. Initially, Pogačar was not present, having completed a training session nearby. The team waited in uncertainty for nearly an hour before someone suddenly drove through the bend. It was Pogačar, wearing a helmet from a promotional caravan and riding a mountain bike. His arrival created a buzz among fans, who surrounded him with requests for photos and autographs, making the filming process challenging. Merckpoel needed calmness to proceed with the shoot. She gathered her courage and approached Pogačar, explaining the concept of the video. He immediately understood and suggested they film behind the family van. However, the area remained lively as fans continued to gather. Eventually, Žigart’s father intervened, providing the team with some space to work. Pogačar proved to be a perfect collaborator. Merckpoel explained the concept briefly, positioning Pogačar in the background while focusing on Žigart as the main star, and he grasped the idea instantly. “He’s very sharp and witty,” Merckpoel noted. “In such a sketch, tone and timing are crucial. This time, I had the perfect co-star.” Another surprise awaited Pogačar. The team had prepared a special shirt for him, marked with the acronym HAB, standing for “Husbands and Boyfriends.” It was a male counterpart to the term WAG, which stands for “Wives and Girlfriends” and is often used to refer to athletes' partners. Merckpoel described the reaction: “He was immediately thrilled. He put it on and sent a selfie to Urška. At first, we thought he was just being polite, but he wore it throughout the entire race.” Pogačar also asked where the video would be posted. Upon learning it would be primarily on Instagram, he admitted he doesn’t follow social media extensively. Merckpoel found this endearing. “It seems he simply focuses on cycling and his girlfriend. That’s wonderful. I believe this grounded nature contributes to his success.” The video exploded online shortly after its release. In a short period, it reached 2.2 million views and over 140,000 likes, with numbers continuing to rise. Merckpoel expressed surprise at the overwhelming response. During the interview, Pogačar joked about being Žigart’s boyfriend. He mentioned coming from Slovenia and supporting her because she is his fiancée. “I’m also a cyclist, sometimes we ride together, but she usually leaves me behind. I mostly cycle for coffee,” he quipped. He added that being Žigart’s partner can be tough, noting that Merckpoel described Žigart as a well-known cyclist. “Acting like a really good boyfriend,” Merckpoel remarked. “I try to be, but she’s better at being a girl,” Pogačar replied. He then received a unique gift, a HAB shirt, which he immediately put on and wore while cheering for Žigart, who finished the nine-stage race in 19th place overall, though she ultimately placed 48th.