Tadej Pogacar

Tadej Pogacar is a Slovenian professional cyclist who rides for UAE Team Emirates. He achieved remarkable success by winning the most prestigious cycling race of the year, the Tour de France, in both 2020 and 2021. IDLProCycling.com keeps a close eye on all news related to Pogacar, along with maintaining a biography of his career.

Pogacar was recognized as a significant talent in cycling from an early age. His aptitude for stage racing became apparent when he won the Tour de l'Avenir in 2018. This achievement was enough for UAE Team Emirates to secure the Slovenian cyclist. At UAE Team Emirates, the young Pogacar quickly made a name for himself in the peloton. As a WorldTour debutant, he immediately impressed with overall victories in the Tour of Algarve and the Tour of California.

His breakthrough moment, however, was at the Vuelta a España later in the fall, that same year. In this grand tour he not only captured three stage wins and the young rider's jersey but also secured a third-place finish in the general classification. His remarkable 40-kilometer solo ride in the final mountain stage of the Vuelta sealed his reputation as a rising star in professional cycling. The cycling world now knew who he was.

In 2020, Pogacar started off strongly again. He won two stages and the general classification in the Tour of Valencia and finished second in the UAE Tour, partly thanks to a stage win. Then the season was interrupted by covid. In June, Pogacar still competed against Primoz Roglic at the Slovenian road championship. Roglic won the road race, but Pogacar won the time trial. Was it a sign of what was to come?

After a long break due to the pandemic, Pogacar returned calmly. He finished fourth in the Dauphiné, but his best form was yet to come. His formidable form appeared in the Tour de France, where he surprised everyone by being in top form for three weeks. Roglic seemed to have the upper hand with a strong Jumbo-Visma team, but Pogacar had a final explosive performance left in him. On the penultimate day, he rode a sensational time trial and took the yellow jersey from his countryman Roglic, eventually climbing to the top of the podium in Paris. He became the youngest post-war winner of the Tour. He ended his season with an impressive third place in Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

In 2021, Pogacar started off like a rocket with victories in the UAE Tour, Tirreno-Adriatico, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. He was again unbeatable in the Tour de France, representing UAE Team Emirates, and later extended his contract through 2027. After securing three stage wins, he reached Paris with a significant lead, and just a week later, he also achieved third place in the Olympic road race, concluding the year with a win in the Tour of Lombardy.

The beginning of 2022 saw Pogacar appear to take another step forward: he won the UAE Tour, Strade Bianche, and Tirreno-Adriatico. He then made his debut in the Tour of Flanders, finishing fourth. His defense of the title in Liège-Bastogne-Liège was not possible due to the passing of his mother-in-law.

Pogacar then started the Tour de France again as the top favorite, dealing some early blows to his competitors in the first week. After one week, he was solidly in the yellow jersey with two stage wins, but things went awry in the high mountains: Jumbo-Visma outmaneuvered Pogacar in the queen stage to the Col du Granon, and the Slovenian had no answer: Jonas Vingegaard won the Tour.

In the fall, Pogacar claimed three impressive victories in the Tre Valli Varesine, GP Montréal, and the Tour of Lombardy. However, his main target for 2023 was to reclaim his title in the Tour de France. The year, however, presented its challenges for Tadej, most notably a broken wrist resulting from a crash in Liège-Bastogne-Liège. In the 2023 Tour de France, he secured two stage victories and engaged in a fierce competition with Vingegaard and the Jumbo-Visma team. The pivotal moment came on the Col de la Loze, where Pogacar ultimately conceded, leading to Vingegaard clinching his second Tour de France title, while Pogacar secured a commendable second place.

In 2024 Pogacar will surely be hungry for more, to be continued...