Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Tadej Pogačar

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 19, 2026

Discover the career path of Tadej Pogačar, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Tadej Pogačar is a Slovenian professional road cyclist widely regarded as one of the greatest talents in the history of the sport. Competing for UAE Team Emirates, he achieved international stardom by winning the Tour de France twice in his early career (2020, 2021) and completing a historic Giro d'Italia and Tour de France double in 2024. Known for his aggressive, versatile, and attacking riding style, Pogačar excels in both high-mountain climbs and one-day classics. His palmarès include multiple Monument victories, such as Liège–Bastogne–Liège and the Tour of Flanders, as well as an Olympic bronze medal. Consistently ranked at the top of the UCI World Ranking, Pogačar is defined by his remarkable endurance, tactical intelligence, and ability to dominate across various terrains, making him a transformative figure in modern professional cycling.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1904: Henri Cornet's Tour de France Victory

In 1904, Henri Cornet secured a victory in the Tour de France at the age of 19, remaining the youngest winner in the history of the race as noted in comparisons to Tadej Pogačar's 2020 triumph.

1972: Eddy Merckx's Triple Jersey Achievement

In 1972, legendary cyclist Eddy Merckx achieved the feat of winning three distinct jerseys in a single Tour de France, a record matching Pogačar's own multi-jersey win in 2020.

1983: Historical Tour de France Debut Victory

In 1983, a cyclist last accomplished the feat of winning the Tour de France on their very first attempt before Pogačar equaled this achievement in 2020.

1998: Reference to Historical Double

The year 1998 is noted as the last time a rider achieved the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France double prior to Pogačar's 2024 achievement.

2011: Discovery by Andrej Hauptman

In 2011, Andrej Hauptman noticed a young Tadej Pogačar during a race, where he mistakenly assumed Pogačar was struggling to keep pace with older teenagers; in reality, Pogačar was in the process of lapping them, which led to Hauptman becoming his coach and mentor.

August 2018: Signing with UAE Team Emirates

In August 2018, UAE Team Emirates announced the signing of Tadej Pogačar for the 2019 season, highlighting his potential as a highly talented young Slovenian cyclist.

2018: Victory at the Tour de l'Avenir

In 2018, Tadej Pogačar achieved a significant milestone by winning the Tour de l'Avenir, a prestigious under-23 cycling race often compared to the Tour de France, while representing the Slovenian national team.

May 2019: Andrej Hauptman Joins UAE Team Emirates

In May 2019, Andrej Hauptman transitioned to the role of directeur sportif for UAE Team Emirates, continuing his professional partnership with Tadej Pogačar after Pogačar had already signed with the team.

May 2019: Victory at the Tour of California

In May 2019, Tadej Pogačar secured a victory at the Tour of California, which established him as the youngest rider to win a UCI WorldTour stage race after a decisive performance on the queen stage to Mount Baldy.

2019: Tour of California Success

At age 20 in 2019, Tadej Pogačar made history by becoming the youngest cyclist to ever win a UCI World Tour race at the Tour of California.

2020: Tour de France Debut

During his 2020 Tour de France debut, Pogačar secured three stage wins and simultaneously claimed the general, mountains, and young-rider classifications.

2020: First Tour de France Victory

In 2020, Tadej Pogačar achieved his first career win at the prestigious Tour de France.

2021: Analysis of Tadej Pogačar's stage eight dominance

During the 2021 Tour de France, Jonathan Vaughters of Team EF Education-Nippo explained that Tadej Pogačar's success on stage eight was driven by chaotic racing conditions, poor weather, and the absence of strong, cohesive teams like Ineos or Jumbo-Visma to control the race due to early-stage crashes, leaving Pogačar unchallenged when he attacked.

2021: Monument Race Victories

In 2021, Pogačar achieved his first major victories in prestigious Monument one-day races, specifically winning the Giro di Lombardia and Liège–Bastogne–Liège.

2021: Liège–Bastogne–Liège Victory

In 2021, Tadej Pogačar secured a victory at the Liège–Bastogne–Liège race, a key component in his future completion of the Ardennes triple in 2023.

2021: Second Tour de France Victory

Tadej Pogačar successfully defended his title by winning his second Tour de France in 2021.

2021: Successful 2021 Cycling Season

Throughout 2021, Tadej Pogačar achieved significant success in professional cycling, securing victories at the UAE Tour, Tirreno–Adriatico, the Tour of Slovenia, and his first career monument win at Liège–Bastogne–Liège.

2021: Tadej Pogačar's 2021 Tour de France Dominance

Throughout the 2021 Tour de France, Tadej Pogačar established himself as a dominant force by winning the fifth stage time trial, securing the yellow jersey on stage eight, and extending his overall lead by the ninth stage to Tignes.

2022: Tadej Pogačar's 2022 Late Season Classics and Victories

During the 2022 season, Tadej Pogačar concluded his campaign in Italy with notable performances, including a second-place finish at Giro dell'Emilia, a victory at Tre Valli Varesine, and a successful defense of his Il Lombardia title. By the end of 2022, Pogačar led the men's peloton with a total of 16 race wins.

2022: Tadej Pogačar's 2022 Post-Tour Racing Schedule

During the 2022 season, Tadej Pogačar skipped the Vuelta a España, experienced mixed results at the Clásica de San Sebastián, Bretagne Classic, and GP Québec, achieved a victory at the GP Montréal, and competed in the individual time trial and road race at the World Championships in Australia.

2022: 2022 Tour de France Context

The 2022 Tour de France serves as the historical benchmark for the head-to-head rivalry between Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard referenced during the 2023 season.

2023: Tour of Flanders Win

Continuing his dominance in Monument races, Pogačar successfully added the Tour of Flanders to his list of victories in 2023.

2023: Dominant Start to 2023 Cycling Season

In 2023, Tadej Pogačar achieved significant victories including the Jaén Paraiso Interior, the overall title at the Vuelta a Andalucía with three stage wins, and an overall win at Paris-Nice where he also secured three stages and defeated Jonas Vingegaard.

2023: UCI World Championships Bronze and Il Lombardia Victory

In 2023, Tadej Pogačar secured a bronze medal in the road race at the UCI World Championships behind rivals Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert. He concluded his season with a historic third consecutive win at the Il Lombardia race.

2024: Tour de France and Giro d'Italia Double

During 2024, Tadej Pogačar continued his dominance in professional cycling by winning both the Giro d'Italia and his third Tour de France.

2024: Triple Crown of Cycling

In 2024, Pogačar completed the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France double, winning 12 stages, and added the World Championship to become the third cyclist in history to achieve the Triple Crown of Cycling.

2025: Retention of Titles

In 2025, Pogačar solidified his legacy by becoming the first rider to successfully retain both the Tour de France and the World Championship titles.

2025: Fourth Tour de France Victory

Tadej Pogačar cemented his status as one of the greatest cyclists in history by securing his fourth Tour de France title in 2025.

2027: UAE Team Emirates contract extension

In 2027, Tadej Pogačar was committed to UAE Team Emirates following a one-year contract extension announced by the team at the end of July.

23 April 2023: Liège–Bastogne–Liège Crash

On 23 April 2023, Tadej Pogačar was involved in a collision with Mikkel Honore during the Liège–Bastogne–Liège race, resulting in a wrist fracture that ended his participation in the event.