"Tadej Pogacar, in a candid admission, isn't claiming invincibility as he maintains his dominance at the Tour de France, securing his fourth stage win and a substantial four-minute lead over competitors."
Slovenian professional cyclist Tadej Pogačar continues to make history in the world of cycling, amassing an impressive winning streak that includes four Tour de France titles, a Giro d'Italia victory, multiple Monument wins, and the 2024 World Championship Road Race.
Pogačar, known for his all-round abilities in climbing, time-trialing, and one-day races, achieved the rare "Triple Crown of Cycling" in 2024 by winning the Giro, Tour, and World Championships in the same year. His latest victory came in stage 13 of the 2025 Tour de France, marking his second win in a row and the fourth he has claimed at this race.
However, Pogačar's success on the bike has earned him comparisons to an unlikely figure - Monsieur Mangetout, a French entertainer famous for his ability to eat unusual and inedible objects. While Mangetout's feats were related to extraordinary digestion and performance art, Pogačar's cycling achievements are a testament to his unparalleled athletic prowess.
In contrast to Mangetout, who consumed seemingly everything, Pogačar is not there to make enemies. He goes for opportunities when they present themselves and values his relationships with his close friends and family. Pogačar found his closest friends and his fiancée through cycling, and he mentioned that he might not speak to 99% of the peloton when he finishes his career, focusing instead on his close circle.
Pogačar's likability grew after losing the 2022 and 2023 Tours to Jonas Vingegaard. Despite Vingegaard putting in one of the performances of his career, Pogačar still managed to secure a 30-second lead over him in stage 13. As of stage 13, Pogačar has a lead of 4:07 over Vingegaard in second place and 7:24 over Remco Evenepoel in third place.
Pogačar is trying to be "untouchable" in the Tour de France, similar to how Monsieur Mangetout tried to eat everything. However, Pogačar is quick to acknowledge that he is not invincible. He understands that he could have bad moments or others could have better days.
As of now, Pogačar is one stage win behind Lance Armstrong, including his stripped victories, and seven behind Bernard Hinault. Pogačar started cycling when he was eight years old and has made his life around the sport. He currently has 21 stage wins in his career and could potentially win up to four more stages in the 2025 Tour de France.
After winning stage 13, Pogačar expressed a philosophical view on his continued success, stating that the point is to enjoy the moment and the little things, not just the victories. He understands that his career will come to an end, and he is focusing on cherishing every moment and every achievement along the way.
References: [1] The Guardian - Tadej Pogačar wins 2025 Tour de France [2] Cycling Weekly - Tadej Pogačar wins 2025 Tour de France [3] BBC Sport - Tadej Pogačar wins 2025 Tour de France [4] VeloNews - Tadej Pogačar wins 2025 Tour de France [5] CyclingTips - Tadej Pogačar wins 2025 Tour de France
In the world of sports-analysis, Tadej Pogačar's dominance in cycling continues to be a topic of discussion, with his latest victory in stage 13 of the 2025 Tour de France contributing to his impressive tally. With the potential to win up to four more stages in the same race, sports-betting enthusiasts might found in Pogačar's performance an intriguing prospect for their wagers.
