1. The Historic Triple Crown of Cycling
In 2024, Tadej Pogačar achieved what is arguably the hardest feat in the sport: the “Triple Crown of Cycling.” He won the Giro d’Italia, the Tour de France, and the UCI Road World Championship all in the same calendar year. Before him, only two men in history—Eddy Merckx (1974) and Stephen Roche (1987)—had managed to conquer this brutal combination. Pogačar stands completely alone as the only rider to win the Triple Crown alongside two separate Monument classics in the same year.
2. He Started on the Football Pitch
Before he ever clipped into a pair of cycling pedals, Pogačar’s first athletic love was soccer. He was a passionate and talented player for his hometown team, NK Komenda, in Slovenia. He did not switch his focus entirely to cycling until the age of nine, wanting to follow in the footsteps of his older brother, Tilen, who had joined a local cycling club in Ljubljana.
3. The World’s Most Famous Hair Tuft
One of Pogačar’s most recognizable trademarks is the tuft of hair that perpetually sticks out of the top vents of his helmet during races. The tuft became such an internet sensation that his helmet sponsor, MET, actually designed special “Tadej Edition” helmets. The company playfully leaned into the meme, stating they engineered a specific “HAir Vent” to sweep air upward and allow his hair to dance in the wind organically.
4. He Embraces His “Stupid Instincts”
Modern cycling is heavily dominated by sports science, power meters, and conservative energy preservation. Pogačar famously rejects this robotic approach. He frequently launches massive, long-distance solo attacks simply because he feels good in the moment, later jokingly describing his highly aggressive, unpredictable racing style to the press as a “stupid instinct.”
5. An Aversion to Individual Awards
Because of his childhood background in team sports like soccer, Pogačar actively dislikes individual awards and the lack of camaraderie they can represent. He views cycling as a deeply collaborative team effort. Following his victories, he has frequently stated that he finds it unfair to stand on the final podium alone, expressing a wish that his entire roster of teammates could stand on the top step beside him.
6. The Historic Triple-Jersey Debut
Making his debut at the Tour de France in 2020 at just 21 years old, Pogačar pulled off a near-impossible sweep. Not only did he win the overall General Classification (the Yellow Jersey) after a dramatic penultimate time trial, but he also simultaneously won the Mountains Classification (Polka Dot Jersey) and the Young Rider Classification (White Jersey). He is the only rider to win these three classifications simultaneously.
7. Eddy Merckx Gave Him His Own Nickname
Earning the respect of Eddy Merckx—widely considered the greatest cyclist of all time—is no easy feat. However, Merckx was so impressed by Pogačar’s insatiable appetite for winning every race he entered that he bestowed his own legendary nickname upon the young Slovenian, officially dubbing him the modern-day “Cannibal.”
8. He Studied Mechanical Engineering
Pogačar is not just an athletic powerhouse; he was also dedicated to his education. During his secondary school years in the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana, he studied mechanical engineering while balancing his grueling training schedule. After completing secondary school, he enrolled in a College of Sports Management in the city of Kranj.
9. Cycling’s Ultimate Power Couple
Tadej Pogačar is engaged to fellow Slovenian professional cyclist Urška Žigart, creating one of the most prominent power couples in international sports. He frequently credits her as the foundation of his success. During the 2024 World Championships, which Pogačar won, he admitted he slept through his alarms on race morning and was only saved because Žigart woke him up in time to get to the start line.
10. The Youngest World Tour Winner
Even before his dominance at the Tour de France, Pogačar was rewriting the history books. In 2019, at just 20 years old, he secured the overall victory at the Tour of California. This incredible performance made him the youngest cyclist in the history of the sport to win a UCI World Tour stage race.
11. He Finds Unity in Suffering
Pogačar does not shy away from the brutal, painful reality of professional cycling; he fully embraces it. He has stated that “suffering and cycling go hand in hand,” and believes that the shared agony of battling up steep mountains through freezing rain is the defining element that truly unites the global fraternity of cyclists.
12. A Throwback to the “Golden Era”
Sports analysts frequently point out that Pogačar races like a cyclist from the 1960s or 70s. In the modern era, riders generally specialize in either three-week Grand Tours or one-day Classics. Pogačar defies this logic by competing fiercely—and winning—across almost all terrains, proving himself as a true all-rounder capable of winning the Tour de France in July and the brutal cobbled Monuments in the spring.
13. The Giro d’Italia Was a Childhood Dream
While the Tour de France is the most famous race in the world, Pogačar’s decision to race the Giro d’Italia in 2024 was deeply personal. Growing up in Slovenia, the route of the Italian Grand Tour frequently passed very close to his home country. Because of its physical proximity, watching the Giro live was a massive part of his childhood, making his 2024 victory there the realization of a lifelong dream.
14. Unprecedented Time at World Number One
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) ranks professional riders based on their performances across the entire calendar year. Because Pogačar is competitive in almost every race he enters, he has shattered the record for the most total weeks—and the most consecutive weeks—spent as the undisputed Number One ranked cyclist in the world.
15. A Custom “Superfluid” Helmet Design
To celebrate his seemingly frictionless movement on the bike, MET designed a special edition iridescent Trenta 3K Carbon helmet for him. The rainbow design was not meant to celebrate his World Championship, but rather to mimic the concept of “superfluidity.” The designers wanted the helmet’s shifting colors to visually represent Pogačar’s effortless, flowing state of mind while racing at unimaginable speeds.
