Tadej Pogačar facts for kids
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Pogačar at the 2022 Tour of Slovenia
(current UCI world No.1 – record 263 weeks in total) |
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | Pogi | ||
| Born | 21 September 1998 Klanec, Komenda, Slovenia |
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| Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in) | ||
| Weight | 66 kg (146 lb; 10 st 6 lb) | ||
| Team information | |||
| Current team | UAE Team Emirates | ||
| Discipline | Road | ||
| Role | Rider | ||
| Rider type | All-rounder | ||
| Major wins | |||
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Tadej Pogačar (born 21 September 1998), often called "Pogi", is a professional cyclist from Slovenia. He rides for the UCI WorldTeam UAE Team Emirates. Tadej is known as one of the greatest cyclists of all time, even though he is still quite young.
He has won many important races. These include five Tours de France (in 2020, 2021, 2024, 2025, and 2026). He also won the Giro d'Italia in 2024. Tadej has also claimed victory in thirteen major one-day races called Monuments. These include Milan–San Remo once, Tour of Flanders three times, Liège–Bastogne–Liège four times, and Giro di Lombardia five times. He also won the World Championship Road Race twice.
Tadej is great at many types of cycling. He excels in time trials, one-day classic races, and climbing mountains in grand tours. Because of his all-around skills, people compare him to legendary cyclists like Eddy Merckx.
Contents
- Tadej Pogačar's Cycling Journey
- Early Days in Cycling
- Joining UAE Team Emirates (2019–Present)
- 2019: First Big Wins and Grand Tour Debut
- 2020: First Tour de France Victory
- 2021: Second Tour Win and Monument Success
- 2022: Tour Runner-Up and More Wins
- 2023: Injury and Another Tour Second Place
- 2024: Achieving the Triple Crown of Cycling
- 2025: Fourth Tour Win and Monument Records
- 2026: Fifth Tour Win and More Monument Victories
- Exciting Rivalries
- Tadej Pogačar's Impact on Cycling
- Tadej Pogačar's Life Outside of Racing
- Tadej Pogačar's Career Highlights
- See also
Tadej Pogačar's Cycling Journey
Tadej Pogačar had a very successful start as a young rider. He won the Tour de l'Avenir in 2018, which is a big race for riders under 23. In 2019, at just 20 years old, he became the youngest cyclist to win a UCI World Tour race at the Tour of California.
In his first Tour de France in 2020, and again in 2021, he won three stages. He also won the overall race, the mountains classification, and the young-rider classification. He is the only rider ever to win all three of these at the same time!
In 2021, Tadej also started winning the important one-day Monument races. He won the Giro di Lombardia and Liège–Bastogne–Liège. He continued to win these races in later years, adding the Tour of Flanders in 2023.
In the big Grand Tours, Tadej finished second in the Tour de France twice in a row to Jonas Vingegaard. Their competition is considered one of the best in cycling history. In 2024, he achieved something amazing: he won both the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France in the same year. This had not been done since 1998. He won 12 stages across both races. Then, he added the World Championship title, becoming only the third cyclist to achieve the Triple Crown of Cycling. In 2025, he became the first rider to win both the Tour de France and the World Championship two years in a row. In 2026, Pogačar won the Tour de France for the fifth time, joining a very exclusive club of cycling legends.
Tadej is known for his exciting way of riding. He often attacks during races, even when others are trying to save energy. He jokingly calls this his "stupid instinct." His goal to win both Monuments and Grand Tours reminds people of how cyclists raced in the 1960s to 1980s. This success has made him the UCI road racing world No.1 for a record number of weeks.
Early Days in Cycling
Tadej Pogačar started cycling at age nine, following his older brother Tilen. He joined the Rog Ljubljana club. In 2011, a famous cyclist named Andrej Hauptman noticed Tadej. Hauptman later became his coach. He saw Tadej chasing older teenagers and thought he was struggling. But the organizers told him Tadej was actually about to lap them! Hauptman continued to guide Tadej as he grew older.
In 2018, Tadej won the Tour de l'Avenir. This is a prestigious race for young riders, often seen as a stepping stone to the Tour de France. He rode for the Slovenian national team.
Joining UAE Team Emirates (2019–Present)
2019: First Big Wins and Grand Tour Debut
In August 2018, UAE Team Emirates announced that Tadej Pogačar would join their team in 2019. They called him a "very talented young Slovenian cyclist." In 2019, Tadej won the Volta ao Algarve. He also won the Tour of California in May, becoming the youngest rider to win a UCI WorldTour stage race at that time.
In August, Tadej raced in the Vuelta a España, his first major three-week race. He performed very well, winning three stages. He finished third overall and won the young rider classification. This was an amazing debut in a Grand Tour.
2020: First Tour de France Victory
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Tadej Pogačar planned to ride his first Tour de France in 2020. He started the season strong, winning the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana. He also won a stage and finished second overall at the UAE Tour.
During the Tour de France, Tadej showed he was in great shape. He won his first Tour stage on stage 9. He continued to gain time on his rivals. Before the final time trial on stage 20, he was 57 seconds behind the leader. In an incredible performance, Tadej won the time trial by a large margin. He took the yellow jersey, becoming the first Slovenian to win the Tour. At 21, he was the second-youngest winner ever. He also won the young rider and mountains classifications. This made him the first rider since Eddy Merckx in 1972 to win three jerseys in one Tour.
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After the Tour, Tadej continued to race well. He finished third at Liège–Bastogne–Liège, a famous one-day race.
2021: Second Tour Win and Monument Success
Tadej Pogačar had a fantastic start to 2021. He won the UAE Tour, Tirreno–Adriatico, and the Tour of Slovenia. He also won his first Monument race, Liège–Bastogne–Liège.
He entered the 2021 Tour de France as a top favorite. He won the stage 5 time trial, gaining time on his rivals. On stage 8, he launched a big attack and took the yellow jersey. He kept extending his lead, winning stages 17 and 18 in the mountains. He finished the Tour with a lead of over five minutes.
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Tadej became the youngest cyclist to win two Tours in a row. He also won three jerseys for the second year. Some people wondered about his amazing performance. Tadej explained that his success came from hard work and fair play.
After the Tour, Tadej won a bronze medal in the men's road race at the Olympic Games. Later in the year, he won his second Monument, the Il Lombardia. He became one of only a few riders to win two Monuments and the Tour in the same year.
2022: Tour Runner-Up and More Wins
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Tadej Pogačar started 2022 by winning the UAE Tour again. He then won Strade Bianche with an amazing solo attack. He also defended his title at Tirreno-Adriatico. He then rode his first cobbled classic, the Tour of Flanders, finishing fourth.
In the Tour de France, Tadej won two stages and wore the yellow jersey. However, on stage 11, he lost a lot of time to Jonas Vingegaard in the mountains. He tried to attack Vingegaard many times in the following stages. He won another stage, but Vingegaard held onto his lead. Tadej finished second overall and won the young rider classification.
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Later in 2022, Tadej won the GP Montréal. He finished his season by winning his second Il Lombardia title. He had 16 wins in 2022, the most of any male cyclist.
2023: Injury and Another Tour Second Place
Tadej Pogačar began 2023 with strong wins at Jaén Paraiso Interior and Vuelta a Andalucía. He then won Paris-Nice, beating his rival Jonas Vingegaard.
He continued his winning streak by claiming victory at the 2023 Tour of Flanders. He rode solo for the final 19 km to win. This made him one of only three male cyclists to win both the Tour de France and Tour of Flanders. Next, he won the Amstel Gold Race and La Flèche Wallonne. This completed the Ardennes triple, as he had won Liège–Bastogne–Liège in 2021.
However, in April, Tadej crashed at the start of 2023 Liège–Bastogne–Liège. He fractured his wrist, which meant he had to stop racing for a while. This injury happened just months before the Tour de France. Despite this, he recovered and raced in the Tour. He won two stages and finished second overall. He also won the white jersey for the young rider classification for a record fourth time.
In August, Tadej won a bronze medal at the UCI World Championships road race. He finished his season by winning his third consecutive Il Lombardia title.
2024: Achieving the Triple Crown of Cycling
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Tadej Pogačar planned a very challenging 2024 season. He aimed to win both the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France in the same year. This is a very rare achievement, last done by Marco Pantani in 1998. He also planned to compete in the Summer Olympics and UCI World Championships. This put him in the running for the Triple Crown of Cycling. This means winning the Giro, Tour, and World Championship road race in one year.
He started his season by winning Strade Bianche with a long solo attack. He then won Liège–Bastogne–Liège for the second time. This was his sixth career Monument victory.
Tadej began the Giro d'Italia as the top favorite. He won six stages and took the pink jersey early on. He finished the race winning both the mountains and overall classifications. His lead of nearly 10 minutes was the largest since 1965.
In June, Tadej started the Tour de France. He wore the yellow jersey for most of the race. He won six stages, including a historic climb on stage 15 where he beat a record set by Marco Pantani. He became the first non-sprinter since 1938 to win three stages in a row at the Tour. He wore a leader's jersey for 39 stages across both Grand Tours, setting a new record.
After the Tour, Tadej won the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal. He then went to the UCI World Championships. He won the road race with an incredible solo attack from over 100 km out. This made him the third male cyclist to complete the Triple Crown of Cycling.
He finished his 2024 season by winning the Giro dell'Emilia and his fourth Il Lombardia title. His 2024 season is widely seen as one of the greatest ever in cycling. Some people wondered about his amazing performances. Tadej replied, "There will always be jealousy."
2025: Fourth Tour Win and Monument Records
In 2025, Tadej Pogačar focused on the spring classics and the Tour de France. He started his season by winning the UAE Tour. In March, he won Strade Bianche for the third time, despite a crash. He then raced Milan–San Remo, finishing third.
In April, Tadej won his second Tour of Flanders title. He attacked on the final climb and rode solo to victory. A week later, in his first Paris–Roubaix, he finished second after a crash and a puncture.
He continued his success in the Ardennes classics. He finished second at the Amstel Gold Race. He then won La Flèche Wallonne with a strong attack. Finally, he secured his third win at Liège–Bastogne–Liège.
Tadej returned to racing in June at the Critérium du Dauphiné. He won the race, beating Jonas Vingegaard. In July, he won the Tour de France for the fourth time. He won four stages, bringing his total Tour stage wins to 21. He also achieved his 100th professional win during this Tour.
At the UCI Road World Championships in Kigali, Tadej won his second consecutive road race title. He then won the European road race title for the first time. He also won the Tre Valli Varesine.
He finished his season by winning his fifth consecutive Il Lombardia title. This equaled a record set by Fausto Coppi. He also became the first rider to finish on the podium in all five Monuments in the same season.
2026: Fifth Tour Win and More Monument Victories
In 2026, Tadej Pogačar started his season later at the Strade Bianche. He won the race for a record fourth time with another solo attack. A few weeks later, he won Milan–San Remo for the first time. This was his eleventh Monument win, tying him with Roger De Vlaeminck.
Tadej then raced the Tour of Flanders, aiming for a record third win. He attacked on the Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg climbs, dropping his rivals. He rode solo to win the race for the third time. A week later, he finished second at Paris–Roubaix after a crash and a puncture.
At the Liège–Bastogne–Liège, Tadej won his third Monument of the season. He launched an attack on the Côte de la Redoute and rode solo to victory.
At the 2026 Tour de France, Tadej won stage 19 atop Alpe d'Huez. His ascent time was a record, faster than Marco Pantani's previous mark. This victory helped him secure his fifth Tour de France title.
Exciting Rivalries
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Tadej Pogačar has had some thrilling rivalries with other top cyclists. These rivalries make races even more exciting to watch!
Tadej Pogačar vs. Jonas Vingegaard
Tadej Pogačar's competition with Danish cyclist Jonas Vingegaard is a major story in the Tour de France. Many people call it one of the greatest cycling rivalries ever. Tadej and Jonas finished first and second in five Tours de France in a row from 2021 to 2025. Tadej won in 2021, 2024, and 2025. Jonas won in 2022 and 2023. They have also battled in other important races like Paris-Nice. Experts say they are far ahead of other riders in overall race competitions.
Tadej Pogačar vs. Mathieu van der Poel
Tadej Pogačar often competes with Dutch cyclist Mathieu van der Poel in one-day classic races. Journalists consider them the best one-day riders of their generation. Tadej has won thirteen of cycling's Monuments, and Mathieu has eight. These numbers are much higher than any other active cyclist. Their rivalry became even more talked about in 2025. That year, they won all four Monuments between them. Former Tour de France winner Óscar Pereiro called their competition the best cycling rivalry since the 1990s.
Tadej Pogačar's Impact on Cycling
His Unique Riding Style
Tadej Pogačar is special in cycling because of his attacking and creative riding style. Many riders today are very careful to save energy. But Tadej is known for making races more fun to watch with his bold moves. He often launches long-distance attacks, like in the 2024 and 2025 UCI World Championships. In those races, he made his first move over 100 km from the finish! After his 2024 World Championship win, Tadej joked, "For sure it was a stupid move, but in the end stupid worked."
Comparisons to Eddy Merckx
People have often compared Tadej Pogačar to Eddy Merckx. Merckx is widely considered the most successful cyclist in history. Some experts even believe Tadej is better than Merckx and Bernard Hinault. After Tadej's big win in the 2021 Tour de France, Merckx himself called Tadej "the new Cannibal," which was Merckx's own nickname. Merckx suggested that Tadej could win the Tour de France more than five times.
After Tadej's victory at the 2021 Il Lombardia, Merckx said that Tadej was the first cyclist to truly live up to the comparison. During Tadej's amazing 2024 season, the comparisons grew even stronger. After his Giro d'Italia win, five-time Tour winner Bernard Hinault said Tadej was "like me and Merckx." After the Tour, a Spanish newspaper called him "Tadej Pogačar is the Cannibal 2." Following the World Championships, Merckx told a newspaper that Tadej was "now above me." However, he later clarified that he meant Tadej's World Championship performance was exceptional. Tadej's 2024 season has been compared to Merckx's 1972 season, which was considered Merckx's best.
During the 2025 Tour de France, a sports writer called Tadej "a possible equal of Eddy Merckx—or more." Tadej himself has commented on the comparison. He said Merckx's list of wins is "unbelievable" and something hard to imagine achieving today. After the 2026 Tour de France, Bernard Hinault said Tadej races like him and Merckx. Merckx added that comparing riders from different eras is difficult. He said he simply admires what Tadej has achieved.
Tadej Pogačar's Life Outside of Racing
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Tadej Pogačar was born in Ljubljana, Slovenia. He grew up in a town called Klanec, about 20 km north of the capital. His mother, Marjeta, is a French teacher. His father, Mirko, used to work in a factory. Tadej is the third of four children. He speaks both Slovenian and fluent English.
In August 2023, Tadej Pogačar helped victims of floods in Slovenia. He donated 10,000 euros and gave 10 euros for each photo taken with fans. He took over 1200 photos at the event! Tadej lives with his partner, Urška Žigart, who is also a professional cyclist from Slovenia. They got engaged in September 2021.
Sponsorships and Support
In October 2025, reports said Tadej Pogačar earned €12 million that year. He is sponsored by many companies. These include bicycle maker Colnago, shoe brand DMT, MET helmets, Continental tyres, and the Slovenian Tourist Office. He also works with Enervit, Jana, Plume, and the virtual cycling platform MyWhoosh.
Tadej Pogačar's Career Highlights
2019
- Won his first stage in a Grand Tour at the Vuelta a España.
2020
- Won his first Grand Tour, the Tour de France.
2021
- Won his second Grand Tour, the Tour de France, for the second time.
- Earned his first Olympic medal, a bronze in the Road race at the Tokyo Olympics.
2024
- Won his third Grand Tour at the Giro d'Italia.
- Won his fourth Grand Tour, the Tour de France, for the third time.
- Won his first UCI Road World Championship title, completing the Triple Crown of Cycling.
2025
- Achieved 100 professional wins with a victory on Stage 4 of the 2025 Tour de France.
- Won his fifth Grand Tour, the Tour de France, for the fourth time.
- Won his second UCI Road World Championship title.
- Won his first European Road Cycling Championship.
- Won three cycling monuments in one season, a rare achievement.
2026
- Won his sixth Grand Tour, the Tour de France, for the fifth time.
See also
In Spanish: Tadej Pogačar para niños
