WILL POGACAR BECOME CYCLING'S G.O.A.T?

In this series, The Straits Times takes a deep dive into the hottest sports topic or debate of the hour. From Lamine Yamal's status as the next big thing to pickleball's growth, we'll ask The Big Question to set you thinking, and talking.

- Dilenjit Singh

After a season spent demolishing and demoralising his rivals, Tadej Pogacar has the cycling world pondering about his place in the peloton of greats.

In 2025, the Slovenian became the first male rider to triumph at both the Tour de France and the Road World Championships' road race in successive years.

It came amid a 20-win campaign in which he claimed 40 per cent of his races.

Aside from dominating the field at the Tour de France for the fourth time, the 27-year-old Pogacar also signalled his prowess in single-day events.

He joined the legendary Belgian Eddy Merckx as just the second rider to win three Monuments in a season after finishing first at the Tour of Flanders, Liege-Bastogne-Liege and Giro di Lombardia.

Said Pogacar: “It was a perfect season this year, but we'll see if we can improve next year. We want the next one to be the same or even better, if possible.”

Head of performance at the Slovenian’s UAE Team Emirates-XRG outfit Jeroen Swart told L’Equipe: “It only happens once in a generation. It’s like working with Roger Federer or Tiger Woods.”

Jonathan Milan, the 2025 Tour de France sprinters' green jersey winner, who is here for the Tour de France EFGH Singapore Criterium on Nov 2, told The Sunday Times Pogacar is “making history”, adding “he’s one of the best, if not the best of all time”.

Jasper Philipsen, a fellow former green jersey holder, added: “It’s crazy, I’ve never seen a guy as talented as him, he's dominating cycling... You see a lot of guys, they have a good year, but next year maybe a bit less but, for him, it’s just growing and growing.”

His achievements have led Mark Cavendish, retired record 35-time Tour de France stage winner, who is here as an ambassador for the Singapore event, to quip: “Good luck lads for the next couple of years!”