After only six seasons among professionals, Tadej Pogacar is already the number 1 runner of the 21st century. It must be said that the last two years have been extremely prolific for the Slovenian, especially 2024, propelling him to the top of the ranking, overtaking Alejandro Valverde, Chris Froome or Alberto Contador. Deciphering the Cannibal of the 21st century.
By his longevity and his track record, Alejandro Valverde was easily number 1 in our ranking of the best cyclists of the 21st century. But that was without counting the UFO Pogacar who, in six years, overtook everyone and changed the way the bike runs thanks to his unpredictability.
Why is Tadej Pogacar the best runner of the 21st century?
If we speak rationally and quantifiably, the results are the most concrete. And in this game, Pogi has built up a track record beyond all expectations for a cyclist. Beyond reality itself. Three Tour de France, while the record in the 21st century is four, held by Froome. Four Tour of Lombardy, two Liège-Bastogne-Liège, a Giro, a Tour of Flanders and even a World Champion title. In total, at 26 years old, the leader of UAE Team Emirates already has 88 victories, which makes him the 4th most prolific rider in our ranking behind Cavendish (165), Valverde (133) and Boonen (122). At the rate of 20 victories per year, he should overtake Boonen at the end of 2026 and Valverde in 2027 or 2028. If he maintains the same pace obviously. Madness.
Will he have the same longevity as Valverde? Of course not. Finally, we hope for his adversaries and for the suspense that not. Moreover, it is even likely that he will get tired of it well before he is 35-40 years old. Why run for so long when, like Pogi, you have won almost everything? This is also where Pogacar will seek to assert himself in the future, in races that he has not yet won. We obviously think of La Vuelta, so that he completes the three Grand Tours but also Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix, in order to become the only rider of the century to win the five Monuments, which would be a MONUMENTAL feat.
Beyond quantifiable values, it is in the way of running that Pogacar is also the best runner of the century, as evidenced by his attacks 50-60 or even 100 kilometers from the finish. We sometimes complained about the Sky period where everything was decided in the last pass. Today it's quite the opposite, but this time, the ride is bent as soon as he stands on the pedals. So… In 2024, the Slovenian has literally crushed his opponents and even humiliated him as rarely. He has created a feeling of total helplessness for the competition who seem to resign themselves to playing for the podium as soon as they take action… Tadej Pogacar has had no equal for 20 years. Even from Merckx. A cannibal.
His biggest victory:
We hesitated for a long time between his 2023 Tour of Flanders, in front of the king of Flanders Mathieu Van der Poel, whom he disgusted after an incalculable number of attacks. A success which proved his versatility at the highest level. Rare are those to have entered the top 10 of the Ronde having won a GT. There is Valverde, who on his only participation finished 8th at 38 and that's about it. The Spaniard was already renowned for his great versatility, very rare in his era, but Pogacar took versatility to another level.
However, its success at the 2024 World Cup will go down in history and we ultimately chose this one. It must be said that the manner was impressive. Seeing that he was alone 100 km away, Roglic unleashing his last strength in the battle, he attacked to surprise his adversaries. Remco Evenepoel, poorly placed, was fooled just like Van der Poel. In a few kilometers, he caught up with his teammate Sivakov and after a lap of light collaboration, he flew alone towards glory 60 kilometers from the finish. Alone towards his destiny, alone towards his dream, this rainbow tunic which allows any runner to change dimension when he wears it, even when your name is Tadej Pogacar.
Despite his 100 kilometer breakaway, he still finished 34 seconds ahead of his runner-up.
What is he missing?
Not much. But if we have to name a race, it's obviously La Vuelta because it's surely the GT that suits him best. Even more than the others. He could win at least 10 stages given the number of bump finishes in Spain. This would also allow him to join Nibali, Contador and Froome among the riders who won the three GTs. Given his profile, it is an anomaly that he did not win it but this is easily explained by the fact that until then he only raced one GT per year and that he favored the Tour de France . In 2025, the affront should be corrected. He should also take up one-week races like the Dauphiné or the Tour de Suisse, which he has not yet won. That will probably come when he has won everything else.
Otherwise, let's be honest, he's not missing anything. Seeing him win Milan-San Remo or Paris-Roubaix is a treat, but for his profile, traditionally, we could have said that he has already won everything he could. But when it comes to Pogacar, no limits can be set.
