Tadej Pogačar cemented his status as a cycling legend on Sunday, winning the men’s road race at the world championships and becoming the first male cyclist in 37 years to win the rainbow jersey, Tour de France, and Giro d’Italia all in the same year, CNN reports.
The Slovenian phenom’s “Triple Crown” achievement places him alongside cycling giants Eddy Merckx, Stephen Roche, and Annemiek van Vleuten, who achieved the feat in 2022.
The last male cyclist to claim the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia in the same year was Marco Pantani in 1998, highlighting the rarity of Pogačar’s accomplishment.
Pogačar’s dominance throughout the season has confirmed his place as a generational talent. He has consistently demonstrated his ability to win across various race formats, including one-day races like the world championships, which require explosive power and endurance.
“After many years fighting for the Tour de France and other races, I never had the world championship as a clear goal,” Pogačar said. “But this year, everything went smoothly. After a perfect season, it was a really big goal to win the world championship, and I can’t believe it happened.”
The 26-year-old’s victory was a testament to his unwavering determination. With over 100 kilometers remaining in the race, Pogačar launched a daring attack, chasing down the early breakaway and ultimately outclassing his rivals. He rode solo for the final 50 kilometers, finishing 34 seconds ahead of Australia’s Ben O’Connor and the Netherlands’ Mathieu van der Poel.
Pogačar’s victory was not part of the initial plan, he admitted. “We had plans to keep the race under control, but it went quite early,” he said. “I don’t know what I was thinking, but I went with the flow, and luckily I made it.”
Pogačar’s remarkable season, culminating in the world championship victory, has rewritten the history books and solidified his status as one of the greatest cyclists of his generation.
