after retirement poblet continued to live in the barcelona area, in 2001 the local sports arena was named after him and more than 2000 people turned out to pay tribute to him. poblet was awarded the creu de sant jordi in december 2002, one of the highest civil distinctions in catalonia. in 2004 he was a special guest of the vuelta a españa as it passed through catalonia. he died on 6 april 2013 from kidney failure.