Tadedj Pogacar: The Predator And Ruler Of The Tour De France Stage

JAKARTA - At the age of 26, Tadedj Pogacar has made Tour de France his stage. His fourth victory on Sunday 27 July not only confirmed his dominance in world cycling, but also showed the transformation of an athlete from a passionate entertainer to a cold and tall leader.

This year's race became a two-sided stage for the Slovenian racer from the UAE Team Emirates XRG. Pogacar started with its distinctive style of 'aggressive attack', a big smile at the top of the incline, and a spontaneous celebration that amazed fans. However, as the challenges intensified in the three weeks of racing, the joy turned into a sharp focus and calculation of an unknown strategy.

In the last stage, Pogacar again showed his wild side in a one-day classic fight against Wout van Aert. Even though he couldn't win, he showed that the spirit of racing in him was still burning, giving the audience a glimpse of the cheerful and tireless "old Pogacar".

However, since the start of the Tour, Pogacar has signaled that he cannot be stopped. He won four etape wins, including total dominance in the Hautacam climb and a landslide victory in the upward time trial in the 13th stage which widened his distance with his main competitor, Jonas Vingegaard, to more than four minutes.

However, his change in attitude was evident when he entered the Alps. He began to avoid etape's victory and focused more on racing control. At La Plagne, he even let Thymen Arensman win in order to maintain energy and neutralize the threat from Vingegaard. This strategy reminds the public of the way Lance Armstrong dominated the race in the early 2000s, although in a very different context.

"One of the most difficult Tours, if not the hardest, I have ever experienced," Pogacar said after the race, affirming the physical and mental burden in maintaining the advantage for three weeks.

Even though physically he doesn't look fragile, the pressure as a leader makes his emotions appear occasionally. He even briefly called the opponent's tactics "slight bit annoying" after repeated attacks in the mountains. When Matteo Jorgenson tried to attack even though it wasn't a threat in the standings, Pogacar kept his own hands off the move "a sign of how he fully controlled every aspect of the race.

Pogacar is now touted as the most similar figure to legend Eddy Merckx. He has collected four Tour de France titles, one Giro d'Italia title, several Monument wins, and an extraordinary world title' which can only be matched by several big names in history.

Legends like Bernard Hinault even said, "Pogacars like me and Merckx." While Merckx himself admits that Pogacar's performance in the 2024 world championships surpassed his own achievements.

Now, the world is just waiting: can Pogacar match or even pass Merckx's five Tour de France titles, Hinault, Jacques Anquetil, and Miguel Indurain?

To be sure, Pogacar is not just an athlete. He is a symbol of the balance between passion and burden, between predator instincts and calculations of stage controllers. At a young age, he is very close to irreversibility in the history of the sport. With four titles at the age of 26, he is only one step away from registering his name as a true legend of world cycling.

Pogacar statistics are now impressive:

Tour de France: 2020, 2021, 2024, And 2025 Champions

Giro d'Italy: 2024 Champion

Road Race World Championships: 2024 Champion

Monument: Winning At Liège 'Bastogne' Lierge And Il Lombardia

Mont Ventoux's fastest climbing record: 54 minutes 41 seconds (new record 2025)