I ate Pogačar’s sandwiches
As we all know, Slovenian cycling is a big deal, but in Slovenia we can say that Pog and Rog are already the kings of their castles. This includes, as with most athletes, sponsorship agreements. Among them, one stands out more than the other: Tadej Pogačar, a two-time winner of the Tour de France, now has a line of sandwiches in the Slovenian supermarket Tuš. The proceeds from this do not go to Pogačar’s own pocket, as he has re-invested the money in his youth team Pogi Team, whose members can be seen in the very often broadcast commercial Tuša, where they sit in a field with Pogačar eating. said sandwiches. Ethically speaking, I don’t know if my money goes to Pogačar, Poga Team or just Tuš. I therefore apologize for any conflict of interest.
As a cycling journalist, I am more than familiar with a lifestyle that involves eating a lot of sandwiches in the supermarket, for better or worse, mostly for the worse. I sampled the offer in France, Spain, Belgium, Slovenia and more. If there is a sandwich from the supermarket that in some way reduces the misery of this lifestyle, I would love to eat it. I’m also interested in the taste of cake-themed sandwiches.
On the way to Zagreb airport (where I will travel to the Tour de France) I get a friend to drop me off at Tuš in BTC City in Ljubljana, a sponsor of women’s cycling, a shopping complex and customs from the former Yugoslavia. port. The Tuš supermarket is surprisingly large for a European supermarket. It is almost American in size. almost.
The sandwiches are in the fridge at the back of the store. There are three of them, and I, like a little squirrel, fold them in my lap and walk to the cash register, where there is a possibility of payment in bitcoins. i don’t do that.
All sandwiches are small (read: healthy portions) and cost three euros each. On the wrapper are pictures of Pogačar smiling benevolently and I don’t know if it’s photoshop, but here he’s more boyishly clipped. Each sandwich has a name that corresponds to the type of cyclist: “For sprinters” (For Sprinters), “For climbers” (For Hriboluzce) and “For flat” (For Ravnince). This is very cute, of course, but it seems to me that sandwiches from the supermarket are not exactly a balanced part of the diet of cyclists around the world, nor do they eat particularly well in jersey pockets. As far as I know, professional cyclists don’t eat much besides pasta and rice, but let’s pretend to eat because of diving.
On each wrapper is a small badge with the inscription “Tadej srivna ingredient”, which means “Tadej’s secret ingredient” (no joke, this is a serious article.) Let’s start with Sprinter, whose secret ingredient is a creamy avocado spread. It’s a long, dry sandwich about an inch in diameter that is easily held by an anxious local woman who works in supermarkets. The bread is wholemeal, stuffed with chicken breast, avocado spread and cucumber. At first glance, it’s definitely a sandwich from the supermarket. At the first bite, I would describe the taste as neutral, but not entirely tasteless. Cucumbers give the Sprinter a much-needed crunch, otherwise everything is chewed. He is generally completely insulting if he is gentle. Of all the specialties in cycling, Pogačar is not as strong as a sprinter, so he may have given this name to the weakest of the three sandwiches. 2 stars (out of five).
Then I move on to For an apartment. The secret ingredient here is “smoked salmon for full flavor.” It is the heaviest sandwich by weight. The bread is soft and has mustard seeds. Inside is salmon, lettuce, a mixture of mayonnaise, avocado and pickles. My first impression is that it is quite salmon heavy and that the soft bread is prone to soaking. Personally, I enjoy smoked salmon completely on my own, so that colors my opinion. The taste doesn’t bother me, but I wish I was on thicker bread. The salmon has quite a smoky flavor, and the salad isn’t so soft as to be chewy, which is a fine line with supermarket sandwiches. This sandwich tastes like it was in plastic (it was). I miss the avocado even though I know it’s there, and the mustard seeds seem unnecessary and complicate an otherwise simple flavor profile. Because of the soft bread, fishy smell and mayonnaise, this is a sandwich that should be eaten as soon as possible (we all know what happens to Pogačar himself on really hot days like he was at Mont Ventoux last year and also the one currently in my friend’s limousine) . In my opinion, you should call this a sprinter. Three stars.
We finally get to The Climber. I save this for the end because climbing is Pogačar’s best quality, so I guess he saved this title for the most delicious sandwich. Here is the “secret ingredient” of “goat cheese for a delicious meal”. This sandwich is definitely thicker, with a kind of bagel-spiced bread that definitely contains some carbs. Inside are goat cheese, tomatoes, rocket and pesto for a more touch of Caprese salad. At first bite, this sandwich is a big improvement over the other two. It’s very aromatic and pretty fresh for a sandwich in a refrigerated supermarket, almost like Pogačar himself when he’s just about a thermonuclear attack, after firing two more in the final ten minutes. Tomatoes, rocket, pesto and cheese are delicious and satisfying. Nothing is flabby or outdated. The bread adds just the right amount of salt needed for the tomatoes to turn out, creating a very perfect flavor. I usually look for sandwiches in the supermarket when I’m in some state of time constraint or general despair. The climber clearly makes such a pathetic situation more pleasant. I personally recommend this sandwich. Well done, Thaddeus. Four stars.
Overall, I think Pogačar sandwiches are decently healthy and very good for food in the supermarket. At three euros, they are a little expensive for Slovenia, but you get a decent meal and Pogačar’s face is on it, congratulating you on a good choice. In addition, you can leave with the pleasure of supporting the future of Slovenian cycling. When I have the option between a quick meal lined with plastic that does not support Slovenian cycling and an option that is relevant to my interest, I know which one to choose. As they say in Slovenia, Good run.