Tadej Pogačar’s 100th Career Victory: A Modern Legend in the Making

When Tadej Pogačar raised his arms atop the Rampe Saint-Hilaire in Saint-Vulbas during Stage 4 of the 2025 Tour de France, it wasn’t just another stage win — it was a historic milestone. At just 26 years old, the Slovenian phenomenon secured the 100th professional victory of his career, a number that cements his status as one of cycling’s true modern greats.

And yet, what’s perhaps most astonishing is not the number itself, but the pace at which he’s achieved it.

📊 The Company He Keeps: Merckx, Hinault, Cavendish… and Now Pogačar

To fully appreciate the significance of this achievement, it’s worth glancing back at the sport’s most decorated names. Eddy Merckx, arguably the greatest cyclist of all time, amassed an incomprehensible 525 career wins — but even he reached his first 100 victories in his late 20s. Bernard Hinault hit that mark at 27. Mark Cavendish, now equal with Merckx on 34 Tour de France stage wins, took until age 28.

Pogačar’s 100 wins before his 27th birthday positions him firmly in elite historical territory, and in an era of deeper, more specialized fields and increasingly demanding racing schedules, it’s arguably even more impressive.

🏆 A Career Defined by Versatility and Fearlessness

What sets Pogačar apart isn’t just the quantity of his victories, but the breadth of them. He’s not a pure climber, sprinter, or time trialist — he’s all three.

Consider this:

• Three Monument victories (Il Lombardia twice, Liège–Bastogne–Liège once)
• Two Tour de France overall titles (2020, 2021)
• Multiple stage wins in every type of terrain
• Olympic bronze medalist (Tokyo 2021)
• Paris-Nice, Tirreno-Adriatico, and UAE Tour general classification titles

He’s as comfortable dismantling rivals on mountain-top finishes as he is attacking on hilly Classics or outpacing sprinters in reduced bunch sprints. The manner in which he claimed his 100th — a sharp acceleration on a short, steep climb followed by an explosive finish — was quintessential Pogačar: opportunistic, fearless, and devastatingly effective.

Why He’s So Dominant

Pogačar’s domination comes from a combination of natural talent and racecraft honed far beyond his years. He’s a rider with:

• Climbing prowess: Few can match his sustained power-to-weight ratio in the high mountains.
• Time trial efficiency: He’s a proven winner against the clock.
• A punchy sprint: Capable of top-three finishes even in fast finales.
• Unshakable mental resilience: Rarely fazed, often the aggressor.

Additionally, riding for UAE Team Emirates, one of the sport’s most resourced and tactically astute squads, ensures he’s almost always positioned to strike.

What Comes Next?

At 26, Pogačar has time on his side. Whether he can approach Merckx’s untouchable numbers is speculative, but it’s clear he’s redefining what’s possible in the modern peloton. With two Tour de France titles, multiple Monuments, and now 100 wins, the only question is how high this ceiling can go.

And if Stage 4 of the 2025 Tour is any indication — the sky’s still nowhere in sight.

As cycling continues to evolve with younger, faster, and more fearless riders, Pogačar’s ability to consistently innovate and dominate across all disciplines feels like a generational shift. His 100th victory isn’t a finish line — it’s a waypoint on a journey that’s reshaping the history books in real-time.