Predator and puppeteer: Tadej Pogacar turns the Tour de France into his stage
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Follow topic:
PARIS – At just 26, Tadej Pogacar has turned the Tour de France into his kingdom, claiming his fourth title on July 27 and cementing a reign that recalls the hunger of Eddy Merckx and the iron grip of Lance Armstrong – yet feels entirely his own.
This victory was more than just a triumph – it was a showcase of transformation. Pogacar started the race as a lively, daring rider, delighting fans with audacious attacks and celebrating stage wins with unrestrained exuberance.
Yet, as the gruelling three-week event wore on, the Slovenian’s demeanour shifted. The joy gave way to cold, calculating focus, showcasing his ability to transition from a crowd-pleaser to a commanding leader.
Only in the final stage did Pogacar spring back to life in a ride resembling a one-day classic, during which he fought an epic duel with Belgian Wout van Aert.
While he did not win, the joy of racing was briefly back as the world champion found a challenge at his measure.
Through the first two weeks, Pogacar appeared unstoppable, claiming four stage wins, putting the hammer down on the climb to Hautacam and adding a dominant performance in the uphill time trial on Stage 13.
That victory stretched his lead over Jonas Vingegaard to more than four minutes, reinforcing his position as the man to beat.
His early attacks were bold, his energy seemingly endless. Fans witnessed the Pogacar they adored – smiling at the summit, waving to children on the roadside, and revelling in the pure joy of racing.
However, the Alpine stages brought a noticeable change. Pogacar’s appetite for stage victories diminished, replaced by a deliberate focus on controlling the race.
On the climb to La Plagne, he allowed Thymen Arensman to claim the Stage 19 win, focusing instead on neutralising Vingegaard’s chances of winning the stage.
That level of authority brought echoes of Armstrong’s dominance in the early 2000s, although the context was vastly different. The psychological command over the race, however, felt familiar.
Rivals stopped plotting to beat Pogacar, they plotted to survive.
“It was one of the hardest, if not the hardest, Tours I’ve been in,” he said, emphasising the physical and mental challenges of defending his lead over three weeks.
The Slovenian’s calm demeanour occasionally cracked under pressure. After enduring repeated accelerations from rivals during a mountain stage, he described their tactics as “a bit annoying”.
While Pogacar never appeared physically vulnerable, his transition from carefree to business-like reflected the immense weight of leadership.
Even when Matteo Jorgenson launched an attack, Pogacar personally shut it down despite the American posing no threat to his overall lead – a testament to his meticulous control.
Every milestone Pogacar achieves revives comparisons with Merckx, cycling’s “cannibal”, who devoured everything in his path. The Belgian claimed five Tours, five Giros, one Vuelta, three Giro-Tour doubles, Monument wins and three world championships during his remarkable career.
With four Tour titles, one Giro win, multiple Monuments and a world championship, Pogacar is the closest to Merckx’s level seen in decades.
Bernard Hinault, one of four riders with five Tour wins, remarked that Pogacar is “like me and Merckx”, while the 80-year-old legend himself admitted that Pogacar’s world-title ride surpassed his own on that day.
The defining question now is whether Pogacar can match Merckx’s record of five Tour victories. His 2024 season – winning the Giro, Tour and world title – echoes Merckx’s mythical 1974 campaign.
The Slovenian said he is in no rush to chase history, warning that the risk of burnout looms large in one of the most mentally and physically demanding sports.
“Obviously it’s not the goal to win five tours. Right now, I have no clear goals,” he said.
“Maybe the world championships this year and (the Tour of) Lombardy, but for now I just enjoy the moment and will think about the next goals quite soon.”
The final week of the Tour revealed another layer to Pogacar’s character: the strain of expectation.
Though his joy faded as the race progressed, replaced by steely determination, it is this duality – exuberance and strain, predator and puppet master – that makes Pogacar a compelling figure in modern cycling.
He stands tantalisingly close to the immortal mark of five titles, to cement his place among cycling’s greats. REUTERS
