{"id":160359,"date":"2025-09-25T22:04:11","date_gmt":"2025-09-25T22:04:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/160359\/"},"modified":"2025-09-25T22:04:11","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T22:04:11","slug":"tadej-pogacar-chasing-more-history-at-road-world-championship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/160359\/","title":{"rendered":"Tadej Poga\u010dar Chasing More History at Road World Championship"},"content":{"rendered":"

Poga\u010dar could write more pages of history if he wins Sunday, when a second rainbow jersey could topple records and cement his GOAT legacy: ‘I feel ready.’<\/p>\n

\"Pogacar\"<\/p>\n

Poga\u010dar could write more pages of history if he defends his Zurich victory Sunday. (Photo: Fabrice COFFRINI \/ AFP)<\/p>\n

Updated September 25, 2025 12:06PM<\/p>\n

Tadej Poga\u010dar<\/a> could write more pages of history this weekend if he wins the elite men\u2019s UCI road world championships<\/a> in Rwanda on Sunday.<\/p>\n

A second rainbow jersey would push him into even more rarefied company and higher up the all-time GOAT rankings.<\/p>\n

Speaking to the media on Thursday, Poga\u010dar sounded ready to take on the massive challenge of the Rwanda course.<\/p>\n

\u201cI expect a lot from my legs on Sunday. We have a strong team, so we can be considered one of the top favorites,\u201d Poga\u010dar said. \u201cI feel ready myself. I\u2019ve had a few good workouts and I\u2019m starting to really enjoy cycling again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Only seven men in history have managed to defend the stripes: Georges Ronsse, Rik Van Steenbergen, Rik Van Looy, Gianni Bugno, Paolo Bettini, Peter Sagan<\/a>, and Julian Alaphilippe.<\/p>\n

Despite the hype of the distance and altitude, Poga\u010dar said he\u2019s not too worried about what lies ahead.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe longer climb should suit me best, Mount Kigali. The only problem is that it is still far from the finish line,\u201d Pogacar said. \u201cWe\u2019ll see on Sunday if it\u2019s one of the toughest world championships ever. I don\u2019t think the course is that hard. You have two climbs in the small loop, but there is also a lot of descent in it and you get those kilometers for free.\u201d<\/p>\n

To pull even with those names Sunday would be further proof \u2014 if any more is needed \u2014 that Poga\u010dar is one of the all-time greats in elite men\u2019s cycling. He\u2019s never too worried about that and is already thinking about vacation, but first by going out on a high.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m looking forward to the off-season. I don\u2019t have that many race days, but they are always big races. Because Ur\u0161ka (Zigart, his fianc\u00e9e, ed.) is also racing, we have little time together,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s why I look forward to really spending quality time with her in the off-season. But first we want to end this great season well.\u201d<\/p>\n

There are some other interesting marks Poga\u010dar can reach if he wins Sunday.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a massive road worlds stat attack:<\/p>\n

Yellow and rainbow, Merckx-LeMond territory
\n\"GregLeMond, shown here ahead of the 1986 worlds, is a two-time winner. (Photo: David Madison\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

There\u2019s plenty on the line Sunday when it comes to cycling\u2019s stats nerds.<\/p>\n

Another world title would join him with Eddy Merckx and Greg LeMond as the only men who\u2019ve won multiple yellow jerseys at the Tour de France and multiple rainbow jerseys at worlds.<\/p>\n

Merckx won three world titles and five yellow jerseys, LeMond two rainbow jerseys and three Tours. Everyone else got stuck at one in one of those columns.<\/p>\n

Add Poga\u010dar, and there\u2019s a five-decade through line from the Cannibal to the Cowboy to the Slovenian superstar.<\/p>\n

This follows Poga\u010dar\u2019s blowout 2024, when he matched cycling\u2019s most elusive treble of Merckx (1974) and Stephen Roche (1987) of winning the Giro d\u2019Italia, Tour, and world championships all in the same season.<\/p>\n

More records could tumble
\n\"Pogacar\"Pogacar, shown here after the time trial Sunday, is hoping the race goes his way. (Photo: Dario Belingheri\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Last year he joined an even more exclusive roll call of riders who won the Tour and the worlds in the same season. Georges Speicher was the first in 1933, with Roche in his hat trick in 1987, and LeMond in his miracle comeback year in 1989.<\/p>\n

If he doubles up Sunday, Poga\u010dar will join Merckx \u2014 who won the Tour-worlds combo in 1971 and 1974 \u2014 as the only rider to do it twice.<\/p>\n

And the victory Sunday would put him on the fast track to join \u201cthree-win club.\u201d<\/p>\n

Only Alfredo Binda, Rik Van Steenbergen, Merckx, \u00d3scar Freire, and Sagan have taken three rainbow jerseys.<\/p>\n

With Montr\u00e9al\u2019s 2026 circuit lifted heavily from the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montr\u00e9al \u2014 a race Poga\u010dar already won twice \u2014 another milestone could fall.<\/p>\n

Worlds stat attack: Pogacar\u2019s place in history
\n\"BernardHinault, shown here in the 1986 Tour, is one of the few to win all three grand tours and a world title. (Photo: DOMINIQUE FAGET\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Digging deep into cycling\u2019s century-plus treasure trove of records, milestones, streaks and clubs, and there are still a few boxes to check off for Pog.<\/p>\n

First is the glaring blank spot on his palmar\u00e8s with the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a.<\/p>\n

If he one day captures that third grand tour, he\u2019ll join the ultimate list of complete riders \u2014 Merckx, Felice Gimondi, and Bernard Hinault \u2014 the only men to win all three GTs plus the rainbow jersey.<\/p>\n

At age 27, it\u2019s amazing to think how much he\u2019s already achieved. And despite grumblings of burnout and fatigue, Poga\u010dar \u2014 barring major injury \u2014 should knock off what\u2019s left on his ever-shrinking career to-do list.<\/p>\n

No matter what happens Sunday, Poga\u010dar is already confirmed among just 27 elite men who\u2019ve won at least one grand tour with at least one world title.<\/p>\n

Despite some heated challenges from rivals like Remco Evenepoel, Isaac del Toro or Juan Ayuso, Poga\u010dar will start Sunday as the five-star favorite to win.<\/p>\n

Defending rainbow champions (only 7 men have done it)
\n\"Alaphilippe\"Alaphilippe was the last male rider to defend the stripes. (Photo: DAVID STOCKMAN\/BELGA MAG\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Georges Ronsse (1928\u201329)<\/p>\n

Rik Van Steenbergen (1956\u201357)<\/p>\n

Rik Van Looy (1960\u201361)<\/p>\n

Gianni Bugno (1991\u201392)<\/p>\n

Paolo Bettini (2006\u201307)<\/p>\n

Peter Sagan (2015\u201317, only rider with three in a row)<\/p>\n

Julian Alaphilippe (2020\u201321)<\/p>\n

Riders with at least two yellow jerseys and two rainbow jerseys<\/p>\n

Eddy Merckx<\/p>\n

Greg LeMond<\/p>\n

Triple crown in one year (Tour, Giro, worlds)<\/p>\n

Eddy Merckx (1974)<\/p>\n

Stephen Roche (1987)<\/p>\n

Tadej Poga\u010dar (2024)<\/p>\n

Tour + worlds in same season<\/p>\n

Georges Speicher (1933)<\/p>\n

Eddy Merckx (1971, 1974)<\/p>\n

Stephen Roche (1987)<\/p>\n

Greg LeMond (1989)<\/p>\n

Tadej Poga\u010dar (2024)<\/p>\n

Three-time world champions
\n\"sagan\"Peter Sagan is the only elite male to win three in a row. (Photo: JASPER JACOBS\/BELGA MAG\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Alfredo Binda<\/p>\n

Rik Van Steenbergen<\/p>\n

Eddy Merckx<\/p>\n

\u00d3scar Freire<\/p>\n

Peter Sagan (only one with 3 straight)<\/p>\n

All three GTs + worlds<\/p>\n

Eddy Merckx<\/p>\n

Felice Gimondi<\/p>\n

Bernard Hinault<\/p>\n

Elite men who\u2019ve won at least one grand tour and one world title
\n\"Evans\"Evans, shown here winning Fl\u00e8che Wallonne, won the Tour and the worlds. (Photo: Bryn Lennon\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Alfredo Binda \u2014 3x Worlds, 5x Giro (first to win Giro + worlds same year, 1927)<\/p>\n

Learco Guerra \u2014 1x Worlds, 1x Giro<\/p>\n

Georges Speicher \u2014 1x Worlds, 1x Tour (first Tour + worlds double, 1933)<\/p>\n

Antonin Magne \u2014 1x Worlds, 2x Tour<\/p>\n

Ferdinand K\u00fcbler \u2014 1x Worlds, 1x Tour<\/p>\n

Fausto Coppi \u2014 1x Worlds, 5x Giro, 2x Tour<\/p>\n

Louison Bobet \u2014 1x Worlds, 3x Tour<\/p>\n

Ercole Baldini \u2014 1x Worlds, 1x Giro<\/p>\n

Jean Stablinski \u2014 1x Worlds, 1x Vuelta<\/p>\n

Jan Janssen \u2014 1x Worlds, 1x Tour, 1x Vuelta<\/p>\n

Rudi Altig \u2014 1x Worlds, 1x Vuelta<\/p>\n

Eddy Merckx \u2014 3x Worlds, 5x Giro, 5x Tour, 1x Vuelta (first Giro + Tour + worlds treble in 1974)<\/p>\n

Vittorio Adorni \u2014 1x Worlds, 1x Giro<\/p>\n

Felice Gimondi \u2014 1x Worlds, 3x Giro, 1x Tour, 1x Vuelta (all three GTs + worlds)<\/p>\n

Freddy Maertens \u2014 2x Worlds, 1x Vuelta<\/p>\n

Francesco Moser \u2014 1x Worlds, 1x Giro<\/p>\n

Bernard Hinault \u2014 1x Worlds, 3x Giro, 5x Tour, 2x Vuelta (all three GTs + worlds)<\/p>\n

Giuseppe Saronni \u2014 1x Worlds, 2x Giro<\/p>\n

Greg LeMond \u2014 2x Worlds, 3x Tour<\/p>\n

Joop Zoetemelk \u2014 1x Worlds, 1x Tour, 1x Vuelta<\/p>\n

Stephen Roche \u2014 1x Worlds, 1x Giro, 1x Tour (Giro + Tour + worlds in 1987)<\/p>\n

Gianni Bugno \u2014 2x Worlds, 1x Giro<\/p>\n

Abraham Olano \u2014 1x Worlds, 1x Vuelta<\/p>\n

Cadel Evans \u2014 1x Worlds, 1x Tour<\/p>\n

Alejandro Valverde \u2014 1x Worlds, 1x Vuelta<\/p>\n

Remco Evenepoel \u2014 1x Worlds, 1x Vuelta (first to win both in same year)<\/p>\n

Tadej Poga\u010dar \u2014 1x Worlds, 1x Giro, 4x Tour (Giro + Tour + worlds in 2024)<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Poga\u010dar could write more pages of history if he wins Sunday, when a second rainbow jersey could topple…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":160360,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[4985,45284,101,72946,52041,72947,72948,45287,45288,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-160359","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cycling","8":"tag-cycling","9":"tag-parent_category-road","10":"tag-sports","11":"tag-tag-eddy-merckx","12":"tag-tag-evergreen","13":"tag-tag-greg-lemond","14":"tag-tag-remco-evenepoel","15":"tag-tag-tadej-pogacar","16":"tag-type-article","17":"tag-uk","18":"tag-united-kingdom","19":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160359","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=160359"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160359\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/160360"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=160359"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=160359"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=160359"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}