Tadej Pogačar: The best cyclist of all time?

Tadej Pogačar's season is one to write home about. After his sensational victory in the Giro d'Italia, the Slovenian cyclist has won the Tour de France for the third time... and at only 25 years old! Are we looking at the greatest cyclist of all time?

While it may be early to give him GOAT status, his achievements so far and his current trajectory make us think not only can he join Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hinault, Eddy Merckx, and Miguel Indurain as a five-time Tour winner – but might just surpass them!

Of course, Lance Armstrong famously won seven consecutive Tours, but those were taken away from him by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) cycling governing body in light of his systematic doping. Pogačar looks set to do this without the aid of banned substances.

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What the Slovenian has done this year is nothing short of historic. In May, he won his first Giro d'Italia more than 9 minutes ahead of his nearest rival, Colombian Daniel Felipe Martínez, finishing as leader and winning 6 of the 21 stages of the Italian stage race.

A little more than a month after that win, he arrived at the Tour de France as the big favourite and did not disappoint. Not only did he win his third crown in the most prestigious cycling race in the world, his victory meant he was the first since Marco Pantani in 1998 to win the Tour/Giro double.

Pogačar has finished La Grande Boucle over 6 minutes ahead of Dane Jonas Vingegaard, his great rival and winner of the event in the 2022 and 2023 editions. Pogačar also won 6 stages, including the last three, and wore the yellow jersey for 19 days.

It all comes down to his exceptional ability in a range of areas – he's a true all-rounder. He is explosive, a good sprinter, a magnificent climber and an expert in time trials.

And, as if that were not enough, let's not forget that he's had to compete when his greatest rival Jonas Vingegaard is also at the peak of his powers. A historical rivalry that has been reflected in the last four Tours – all of which have been divided between them: 2021 and 2024 for the Slovenian, and 2022 and 2023 for the Dane.

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What he won't achieve this year is the 'triple crown' with the three grand tour wins, because he will not take part in the Vuelta a España this year, opting to rest and prepare for the World Championship in September.

"I will not go to the Vuelta, although it is a race that I really like, I was there in 2019 and I have always wanted to return. But in my calendar, the priority is the Tour. Maybe next year I will concentrate on doing the Tour and Vuelta," he explained after finishing the Tour before the media, according to the newspaper AS.

If he wins the World Championship, along with the Giro and the Tour, he will be in elite company. Only two other cyclists in history have achieved this feat – Eddy Merck in 1974, and Stephen Roche in 1987.

Due to the enormous fatigue accumulated over the past few months, Pogačar has ruled himself out of the Paris Olympics. Although some suggest this is a protest against the Slovenian cycling federation for not including his girlfriend and fellow cyclist Urska Zigart in the Olympic event.

"I had never dreamt of winning so much. Many thought it was crazy to try to win the Tour after the Giro. With the Giro alone it was already an incredible year, but the Tour is another level and the two together is even more," explained Pogačar after his great victory in France, as reported by Cycling News.

Who knows just how long Pogačar can maintain this career green patch: "As long as I continue to have fun on the bike I will continue racing," he promised after his victory in the Tour, as reported by Cycling News. Perhaps the best of Pogačar is yet to come?