In cycling terms, we are living in the era of Tadej Pogačar, and fans should feel lucky to witness it up close. At 27, the Slovenian is already among the greatest riders this sport has ever seen.

Listing his palmarès gets harder every year as the victories pile up and the tally almost defies belief. During the last Tour de France, he surpassed 100 professional wins – an astonishing number, considering he’s been pro for just six and a half years. Last season he made his Giro d’Italia debut, winning six stages and claiming the overall the Maglia Rosa, while also adding more titles at Il Lombardia, Tirreno Adriatico, Strade Bianche, and the UAE Tour, races he’s conquered multiple times. And speaking of Il Lombardia, in just a few weeks he’ll be chasing his fifth win, which would equal Fausto Coppi’s all-time record.

When it comes to UAE Team Emirates–XRG’s star, it’s much easier to list the races he hasn’t won yet: Milano–Sanremo, Paris–Roubaix, the Vuelta a España… maybe the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Everything else, he’s ticked off already.

With that usual lightheartedness of someone who truly loves what he does, Pogačar will keep setting new goals each year, aiming to thrill his fans, but above all, to enjoy himself. Right now, he’s in Rwanda, looking to defend his rainbow jersey for another year. Today is the World Championship time trial, and he’s on the start list… will he gift himself another world title for his 27th birthday?