Tadej Pogacar Returns To The Scene Of His Arrival
Defector • • sports
Key Points:
- Tadej Pogacar first made his breakthrough at the 2019 Vuelta a España, winning three stages and finishing third overall despite being inexperienced and initially supporting teammate Fabio Aru.
- Pogacar has since become one of the most versatile and successful cyclists, winning five Tours de France, 13 Monuments, and nearly every major stage race except the Tour of the Basque Country and the Vuelta, which remains the only Grand Tour he has yet to win.
- The 2019 Vuelta showed a less strategic Pogacar, who attacked impulsively, unlike the highly tactical and refined rider he is today.
- Pogacar has not raced the Vuelta since 2019 due to the race's difficulty, calendar timing, and his team's conservative approach limiting him to one Grand Tour per season, with plans to target the 2025 Vuelta disrupted by injury.
- In 2026, Pogacar is set to return to the Vuelta after a dominant Tour de France and careful preparation focusing on mental freshness, aiming to complete his Grand Tour triple crown.
