Slovenian cycling prodigy Tadej Pogačar is currently leading the Tour de France. He has taken the sport of cycling by storm, winning the Tour de France in both 2020 and 2021, he achieved the incredible feat of claiming all three jerseys (yellow, polka-dot for mountains, and white for young rider) each time, a rarity not seen in decades.
He further cemented his dominance by conquering the 2024 Giro d'Italia, including the mountains classification and six stages. Compared to cycling legends for his versatility, Pogačar excels in time trials, one-day classics, and grueling mountain climbs. He holds numerous records, including being the youngest winner of the Tour de France in recent history, the first rider to win the Tour's white jersey four times, and the current number one ranked men's UCI road racer. He has had a string of victories in other prestigious cycling races, like the Tour of Flanders, Liège–Bastogne–Liège, Giro di Lombardia, Paris-Nice, and Tirreno–Adriatico.
Born in the quaint Slovenian town of Komenda, Tadej Pogačar's passion for cycling blossomed during his childhood. His talent was undeniable, and he quickly rose through the ranks of amateur cycling, showcasing his prowess in both time trials and mountain stages. This early promise landed him a spot on UAE Team Emirates in 2019, marking the beginning of his meteoric rise to professional stardom.
That same year, Pogačar surprised the cycling world by conquering the prestigious Tour of California at the tender age of 20. He then went on to impress in his first Vuelta a España, securing a podium finish (third place) and the young rider classification, hinting at the immense potential he possessed.
However, it was the 2020 Tour de France that truly announced Pogačar's arrival on the world stage. Initially expected to play a supporting role for his teammate, the young Slovenian defied all odds. In a display of audacious talent, he attacked relentlessly, conquering mountain stages and even winning the individual time trial. This culminated in a sensational victory, not just claiming the coveted yellow jersey but also securing both the polka-dot (mountains classification) and white (young rider classification) jerseys – a remarkable feat not seen in decades.
Pogačar's 2020 Tour de France victory wasn't a one-off wonder. In 2021, he cemented his dominance by becoming the youngest cyclist ever to win consecutive Tours de France. The epic duels with seasoned veterans like Primož Roglič showcased not only his raw power but also his tactical acumen and unwavering determination. Just like the year before, Pogačar repeated his incredible triple jersey feat, further etching his name in cycling history.
Beyond the Tour de France, Pogačar has proven his versatility by conquering some of cycling's most prestigious one-day classics. Each of those victories stand as testaments to his all-around brilliance. These accomplishments place him among an elite group – only the third rider in history to win two Monuments (one-day classics) and the Tour de France in the same year.
Drawing comparisons to cycling legends like Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault, Pogačar's strength lies in his ability to excel across all disciplines. He can dominate time trials, conquer the grueling mountain stages, and even perform exceptionally well on challenging cobbled classics. This all-round brilliance has him setting ambitious goals for the future. In 2024, he has set his sights on achieving the near-impossible – winning both the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France in the same season, a feat that only a handful of cyclists have ever accomplished. With many more years ahead of him and a seemingly limitless potential, Tadej Pogačar is sure to continue captivating audiences and rewriting cycling history for years to come.
[Authors note: As of Saturday July 6th, Tadej Pogačar leads the 2024 Tour by 33 seconds, with no signs of letting up. His biggest rival, Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark, trails 1 minute 15 seconds behind, a large gap in cycling terms. So, Pogačar is now well on his way to his third Tour de France win.]
