Tadej Pogačar hits 100: Grand Tours, Monuments, and a legacy already in the making

With his victory in Rouen, during Stage 4 of the Tour de France, Tadej Pogačar has notched the 100th win of his professional career — a staggering achievement that spans stage races, one-day classics, and general classifications. An exceptional feat for any rider. But the Slovenian superstar has done it by age 25.

Since turning professional, the UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider has redrawn the boundaries of modern cycling, cementing his place as one of the most versatile and dominant competitors the sport has seen. He seems unfazed by fatigue, his pedal stroke remains fluid and relentless, and he lacks nothing — tactically, physically, or mentally. His palmarès already reads like that of a legend: Grand Tours, Monuments, week-long races. He has mastered them all.

It’s the kind of dominance we haven’t seen in decades. Maybe not since Merckx.

Pogačar’s breakthrough came at just 20 years old, at the Volta ao Algarve, where he claimed his first WorldTour win with a summit finish at Foia. The climb — nearly 8 km at an average of 6.7% — was a fitting launchpad for a career that, even in its early stages, seemed destined for greatness. Looking back, it’s remarkable how little doubt there was: this wasn’t just promise, but proof.

Pogačar’s career has been a rapid-fire sequence of early brilliance. As the famed masseur Biagio Cavanna — who once worked with Coppi — used to say, “You either have it at 20, or you become one of the many.” Pogačar had it. And by 25, he was ruling the sport.

In 2019, his first season with UAE Team Emirates, he stood out immediately by winning five young rider classifications across major races, including the Volta ao Algarve, the Tour of the Basque Country, and the Vuelta a España. He finished third overall at that Vuelta, revealing not only his climbing prowess but also a rare composure in the chaos of a Grand Tour.

Then came 2020 — his true coronation. At just 21 years and 9 months, Pogačar won his first Tour de France. It was an epic win, punctuated by a jaw-dropping final time trial where he stole the yellow jersey from Primož Roglič. That ride alone etched his name into the sport’s collective memory. But he didn't stop there: he also claimed the polka-dot jersey and best young rider classification, dominating across the board.

In 2021, he returned to the Tour and did it again — yellow, polka dots, white. A generational force.

The following two years, 2022 and 2023, saw him finish second in the Tour de France — proof not of decline, but of durability. Even in defeat, Pogačar remained a podium fixture, showing he could weather setbacks and still challenge for the win. But in 2024, he took things to another level.

First, he ruled the Giro d’Italia, seizing the maglia rosa and winning an astonishing six stages. Then he turned around and won the Tour de France for a third time, pulling off the rare and glorious Giro-Tour double — a feat that places him alongside the greats: Merckx, Hinault, Anquetil, Coppi, Indurain, Roche, Pantani.

That club doesn’t accept new members lightly. But Pogačar didn’t ask for permission. He earned his seat at the table — emphatically.

Pogačar’s range extends beyond stage racing. He races often, and races to win. While others pick their targets, he targets everything.

He’s assembled an elite collection of Monument wins:

• Liège–Bastogne–Liège: Victories in 2021, 2024, and 2025, proving his punch and endurance in the Ardennes.

• Il Lombardia: Four straight titles from 2021 to 2024, underlining his strength in the late-season classic.

• Tour of Flanders: After finishing fourth in 2022, he adapted to the cobbles and won in both 2023 and 2025.

Pogačar has contended in every Monument. He placed third in Milan–San Remo in both 2024 and 2025, and nearly conquered the Hell of the North with second at Paris–Roubaix in 2025. Even on terrain that doesn’t suit him, he finds a way to compete. His ability to sprint effectively—even after solo efforts—has made him a tactical nightmare for rivals.

On the international stage, Pogačar claimed bronze in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic road race. But his crowning moment came at the 2024 World Championships in Zurich. After near misses—including a bronze in Glasgow 2023—he captured the elite men’s road race title, adding the rainbow jersey to an already glittering résumé.

At just 26 years old (at the time of writing), Pogačar has achieved what many only dream of. But he isn’t done. His mindset, his relentless drive, and his instinct for seizing the moment continue to define him. He’s not just winning races—he’s changing how cycling is raced.