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Tadej Pogačar

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Tadej Pogačar is a professional cyclist from Slovenia. He is widely considered one of the greatest cyclists in history.

Tadej Pogačar (2020)
Tadej Pogačar (2020)

Many fans call him "Pogi" as a nickname. Pogačar is a versatile rider who excels in several different disciplines. He is highly skilled at time-trialing, which is racing against a clock. He is also a master of grand-tour climbing on steep mountains. Additionally, he performs exceptionally well in one-day classic races called Monuments. His ability to win across these different styles makes him a rare talent.

Professional cycling requires different tactical approaches to win. Most riders use a conservative style to manage their energy levels. Pogačar is famous for an attacking riding style. He often launches sudden moves to distance his rivals. He has jokingly referred to this approach as a "stupid instinct." This style is seen as a return to "classic" racing from the 1960s to the 1980s. This aggressive method has allowed him to dominate both one-day Monuments and long Grand Tours.

His career has seen many distinct stages of growth. He began at the Rog Ljubljana club when he was nine years old. In 2011, coach Andrej Hauptman noticed his incredible speed. Hauptman thought Pogačar was struggling to keep up with older teenagers. He later learned the young rider was actually about to lap them.

Dobrodelna akcija Tadeja Pogačarja (53216688831)
Dobrodelna akcija Tadeja Pogačarja (53216688831)

After winning the 2018 Tour de l'Avenir, he joined UAE Team Emirates in 2019. This move to the professional WorldTour level launched his global success.

Pogačar's early professional years were filled with immediate victories. In 2019, he became the youngest rider to win a UCI WorldTour stage race at the Tour of California.

He also finished third overall in his debut Grand Tour, the Vuelta a España. In 2020, he made his debut at the Tour de France. He won the race overall and took both the mountains and young rider classifications. He was the first rider since 1972 to win three different jerseys in one Tour.

Tadej Pogačar (2020 Slovenian Time Trial championship)
Tadej Pogačar (2020 Slovenian Time Trial championship)

The scale of his achievements is truly massive. Pogačar has won the Tour de France four times, specifically in 2020, 2021, 2024, and 2025.

He has also won eleven different Monuments. These include one win at Milan–San Remo and two at the Tour of Flanders. He has won Liège–Bastogne–Liège three times and Giro di Lombardia five times.

2021 LBL podium men
2021 LBL podium men

His dominance is reflected in his ranking as the UCI road racing world number one.

In 2024, Pogačar achieved a historic feat called the Triple Crown of Cycling. This means he won the Giro d'Italia, the Tour de France, and the World Championships in a single year.

2024 UCI Road World Championships Zurich Men Elite Road Race (Pogačar and van der Poel)
2024 UCI Road World Championships Zurich Men Elite Road Race (Pogačar and van der Poel)

He is only the third male cyclist to do this, following Eddy Merckx in 1974 and Stephen Roche in 1987. He is also the only rider to win the Triple Crown and two Monuments in the same year. Furthermore, in 2025, he became the first male to win the Tour de France and the World Championship in two successive years.

Pogačar's career is defined by intense competition and historical comparisons. He is often compared to legends like Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault. His rivalry with Jonas Vingegaard is considered one of the greatest in the history of the sport.

TDF3033 pogacar vingegaard (52243724489)
TDF3033 pogacar vingegaard (52243724489)

While Vingegaard won consecutive Tours, Pogačar responded with a dominant 2024 season. In that year, he completed the first Giro and Tour double since 1998. He won a total of 12 stages across those two major races. His ability to maintain such high levels of performance connects him to the most elite eras of cycling history.

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🖼️ Images & Media (12)
File:Tadej Pogacar of UAE-Team Emirates (48068839377).jpg
Tadej Pogacar of UAE-Team Emirates...
File:Tadej Pogačar (2020 Slovenian Time Trial championship).jpg
Tadej Pogačar (2020 Slovenian Time Trial...
File:Tadej Pogačar (2020).jpg
Tadej Pogačar (2020).jpg
File:2021 LBL podium men.jpg
2021 LBL podium men.jpg
File:Stage 14, 2021 TDF10058 pogacar (51322016774) (cropped).png
Stage 14, 2021 TDF10058 pogacar...
File:Strade Bianche-37 (51964652729).jpg
Strade Bianche-37 (51964652729).jpg
File:TDF3033 pogacar vingegaard (52243724489).jpg
TDF3033 pogacar vingegaard (52243724489).jpg
File:Tadej Pogacar in Marie Blanque.jpg
Tadej Pogacar in Marie Blanque.jpg
File:RVV-OudeKwaremont-03.jpg
RVV-OudeKwaremont-03.jpg
File:Tadej Pogacar - podium medaille or - 2025 European road championship.jpg
Tadej Pogacar - podium medaille or - 2025...
File:2024 UCI Road World Championships Zurich Men Elite Road Race (Pogačar and van der Poel).jpg
2024 UCI Road World Championships Zurich...
File:Dobrodelna akcija Tadeja Pogačarja (53216688831).jpg
Dobrodelna akcija Tadeja Pogačarja...
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