Tadej Pogacar just hit legendary status, securing a record-equalling fifth yellow jersey at the Tour de France on Sunday in Paris. This wasn’t just another win for the Slovenian phenom, it put him right alongside cycling’s absolute GOATs: Eddy Merckx, Jacques Anquetil, Miguel Indurain, and Bernard Hinault. We are talking about true history being made here.
Five Times! This Guy Is Unstoppable
Seriously, five Tours at just 27 years old? That’s insane. Pogacar has now absolutely dominated, winning the last three editions straight. He’s not just a Tour de France monster either. He already crushed the 2024 Giro d’Italia and is a 13-time Monument man. The guy is a machine, a force of nature on two wheels, and it feels like he is only getting started when you look at that age. The only major prize that has eluded him so far in his career? The Vuelta a Espana.
The Missing Piece and the Burnout Battle
Here’s the kicker, though: After making all that history, Pogacar has “opened the door” to participating in the Vuelta, but he’s not rushing into anything. He admitted, “Right now, if it it starts tomorrow, I would say no.” The Vuelta kicks off on August 22, so he’s got a couple of weeks to think about it. “In two weeks, I can still decide,” he said. He wants to soak in this fifth Tour win, saying, “I just want to enjoy this moment, and come back home and enjoy the small things in life.” He’s really happy and proud of this fifth victory, noting that each one has a “different story, a different meaning, different emotions.”
This isn’t just about celebrating, though. Pogacar is keenly aware of burnout. He talked about fighting off fatigue last year for his fourth crown, explaining that burnout isn’t just a bad day, “it means chronic fatigue and you’re not happy on the bike when you go riding. Everything feels like a job.” It’s a real concern, and he’s cautious, wanting to “keep the feet on the ground” before committing. Completing the Grand Tour set, a feat only eight male riders have ever achieved, is what’s on the line. Even his rival, Jonas Vingegaard, joined that elite club earlier this year with his Giro success. The Vuelta starts from Monaco, where Pogacar lives, and will race through four countries. It’s a huge commitment, and he knows it. Will he risk pushing too hard to chase history? We’ll find out in the next couple of weeks what Pogacar decides.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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