Why five-time Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar stands apart from other cycling greats
Tadej Pogačar has cemented his status as one of cycling's greatest athletes after winning his fifth Tour de France. The article explores the physiological and training factors that allow him to outperform his peers in various cycling disciplines.
Why it matters
Pogačar's performance represents a significant milestone in professional cycling, prompting analysis of human athletic limits and modern training methodologies.
GUILLAUME HORCAJUELO/EPA Why five‑time Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar stands apart from other cycling greats Published: July 27, 2026 1:16am EDT https://theconversation.com/why-five-time-tour-de-france-winner-tadej-pogacar-stands-apart-from-other-cycling-greats-288378 https://theconversation.com/why-five-time-tour-de-france-winner-tadej-pogacar-stands-apart-from-other-cycling-greats-288378 Link copied Share article Share article
Copy link Email Bluesky Facebook WhatsApp Messenger LinkedIn X (Twitter) Print article
Tadej Pogačar has joined cycling’s most exclusive club and solidified his position among the greatest cyclists of all time . The 27-year-old Slovenian won the 2026 Tour de France by six minutes and 26 seconds, collecting five stage victories and a fifth overall yellow jersey .
Only Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hinault, Miguel Indurain and Eddy Merckx have also won the Tour five times . Pogačar is a complete cyclist : he can win long mountain stages, time trials and explosive uphill finishes, while also beating specialists in one-day classic races.
So what makes Pogačar different from other riders who are already among the world’s best?
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in