Tadej Pogacar's watch at Tour de France is worth £250k and made wrist bleed mid-race

Tadej Pogacar is no stranger to making headlines. However, during this year's Tour de France, it isn't just the Slovenian phenom's riding that has grabbed attention - so too has the £250,000 Richard Mille watch on his wrist that left his glove stained with blood.

The luxury timepiece, a Richard Mille RM 67-02, became an unexpected talking point in the brutal one-day classic known as the 'Hell of the North.' Pogacar, riding for UAE Team Emirates, wore the featherweight 32-gram watch as part of the team's sponsorship deal with the Swiss luxury watchmaker. Designed for elite athletes, the RM 67-02 is built to withstand extreme conditions, but the relentless cobblestone sectors of Paris-Roubaix proved a challenge even for this high-end accessory. As Pogacar battled the punishing 260km course, sharp-eyed fans noticed his white UAE Team Emirates glove turning red. The watch's edge had rubbed against his wrist, causing abrasions and drawing blood in what is surely one of the more unusual injuries for a cyclist to pick up.

The incident sparked debate among cycling fans, with some questioning why Pogacar would wear such an expensive watch during one of the sport's toughest races. Others suggested the UCI, cycling's governing body, might consider safety regulations for such accessories.

One X user posted: "That's why I'm never buying a Richard Mille watch." A second wrote: "Ouch. Absolutely bonkers that they wear expensive watches during the race like that." A third said: "Why are watches allowed to be worn during races? They ought to ban them."

Despite the discomfort, Pogacar's performance was remarkable, securing second place in his Paris-Roubaix debut, matching the legendary Eddy Merckx as the only reigning Tour de France champion to achieve this feat.

The Richard Mille RM 67-02 is no stranger to the peloton. Fellow cycling star Mathieu van der Poel, who won Paris-Roubaix for the third consecutive time, also wore the same model without issue.

The watch, typically valued between £240,000 and £300,000, is a symbol of prestige and performance, with Richard Mille sponsoring UAE Team Emirates and other top athletes like Formula 1 drivers Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris.

Pogacar's watch, however, has become a testament to the brutality of the Tour de France after images of his bloodied wrist went viral. Despite the mishap, the 26-year-old remained unfazed, keeping the watch on even during his post-race shower at the Roubaix velodrome. For now, the bloody glove serves as a reminder that even luxury can't escape the grit of cycling's toughest challenges.