Can Anyone Catch Tadej Pogacar? Cycling Legend’s Dominance in 2024 Sets New Standards
Pogacar has progressed to the point of being nearly untouchable, says a former Danish pro, who believes even Jonas Vingegaard will find it difficult to catch up to Tadej Pogacar.
Aside from a few rare instances where Tadej Pogacar may have underestimated his rivals, the Slovenian had an impeccable 2024 season. Winning races with 50km solo efforts became a daily occurrence, exemplified by his performance at Il Lombardia, the final monument of the season. It was essentially a formality for the new world champion, who secured his fourth title, matching the legendary Alfredo Binda.
While his achievements are remarkable, experts are starting to become less captivated by such overwhelming dominance:
“It felt like watching a penalty without a goalkeeper, just waiting to see which corner Messi would aim for,” Michael Rasmussen told Ekstra Bladet. “No one attempted to break away; they were all busy fighting while Pavel Sivakov led the pack.” The Frenchman ultimately finished in sixth place.
The dominance of UAE Team Emirates plays a crucial role in Tadej Pogacar’s success, according to the 2005 and 2006 Tour de France mountain jersey winner. “They are completely up against an overwhelming force. If Pogacar lines up with a team featuring Majka, Sivakov, and Hirschi, the competition is already at a disadvantage.”
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike) is one of the few who might challenge this dominance, Rasmussen believes. The two-time Tour winner from Denmark is perhaps the only rider capable of matching the power of UAE Team Emirates. Vingegaard ended his season early to welcome his second child and to prepare for 2025, hoping for a better year after a terrifying crash in Itzulia.
Rasmussen suggests that Vingegaard will need to elevate his performance to compete with Pogacar, whom he defeated at the Tour in 2022 and 2023. “With the progress Pogacar has made, especially in a sport where improvements are often marginal, he has extended his lead to the point of being nearly untouchable, at least for this season.”
