Tadej Pogačar won his third Tour de France this year. Although he will certainly face many challenges in years to come – chief among them Jonas Vingegaard – the Slovenian ensured this year that regardless of the outcome from here, his name would remain etched among the sport’s royalty forever.
At just 26 years old, Tadej Pogačar (1.43) has already secured his place among cycling’s all-time greats, not only because of his impressive Tour de France victories but due of his versatility and dominance across multiple events. In an era when specialisation often defines a cyclist’s career, Pogačar has bucked the trend by excelling in both grand tours and one-day classics, something only the sport’s most elite riders achieve.
With three Tour de France victories already under his belt, Pogačar’s dominance of cycling’s most prestigious event draws natural comparisons to the likes of Eddy Merckx, Miguel Indurain, and Chris Froome. However, Pogačar is rivalled by few if any when it comes to his dominance of cycling at such a young age.
By winning his first Tour in 2020, at just 21 years old, he became the second-youngest rider ever to claim the yellow jersey, with the youngest being Henri Cornet in 1904.
The Slovenian followed it up with two more Tour victories in 2021 and 2024, and his third by the age of 26 puts him in elite company. Only a handful of cyclists have won three Tours, and to do so at an age when some of the greats had yet to hit their peak was an even more remarkable achievement.
Why Pogačar Is a Generational Talent
What sets Pogačar apart is his ability to perform at the highest level across various tours. Lance Armstrong, though once celebrated for his seven consecutive Tour de France victories (later stripped), never displayed the same level of consistency in other grand tours. Armstrong’s focus was almost exclusively on the Tour de France, whereas Pogačar has demonstrated his versatility and staying power by winning multiple stage races and competing for top honours across the calendar. Pogačar’s 2024 Giro-Tour double (the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France in the same year) is a feat that puts him in the same conversation as the likes of Merckx.
Merckx and the likes of Alberto Contador more recently proved their mettle in races beyond the Tour, Pogačar is already proving he has the same multifaceted greatness. He is one of the few riders who seamlessly transitions from excelling in brutal stage races like the Tour de France to one-day classics like Liège-Bastogne-Liège, which he won in 2021 and 2024. The ability to shine in both the punishing three-week tours and shorter, more explosive races is a hallmark of true cycling greatness, and Pogačar has achieved this while still in the prime of his career.
Can Anyone Match Pogačar?
Pogačar has faced stiff competition in recent years, with Jonas Vingegaard in particular pushing him hard in the Tour de France and even winning twice. Other rivals include Remco Evenepoel and Primož Roglič, but the scary part for Pogačar’s rivals is that at 26, he is just entering the peak physical and mental years of a professional cyclist. Many cycling legends, including Armstrong, Induráin and Froome, continued to excel well into their 30s. If Pogačar can maintain his current form, there’s little doubt that he could surpass the achievements of some of the sport’s all-time legends.
The consistency and breadth of Pogačar’s success, even at this young age, mark him as one of cycling’s greatest already. His ability to perform across the calendar and on different types of terrain, from the Alps and Pyrenees to the cobbles of Belgium, is what makes him unique. If he continues at this pace, his name could one day top the list of cycling’s all-time greats.