ANALYSIS: 5 riders who have bounced back from difficult seasons in the past, including Tadej Pogacar and Chris Froome

Cycling is a sport that demands not just physical greatness but also immense mental strength, as riders face brutal races, unpredictable crashes, and personal challenges. While setbacks are inevitable, it’s the comebacks that truly define champions.

As the 2025 season draws ever closer, many riders will be hoping to redeem themselves after challenging seasons in 2024. This article delves into five inspiring stories of cyclists who rebounded from difficult seasons to achieve greatness, including Tadej Pogacar and Chris Froome, whose comebacks others will be looking to replicate this year.

Tadej Pogačar’s 2024 season is widely regarded as one of the greatest in cycling history, if not the greatest ever. Winning the elusive Triple Crown, comprising the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France, and World Championships, along with two monuments, 12 Grand Tour stage victories, and multiple classics, Pogacar redefined what was possible in the modern era of racing. However, this triumph was born from the pain of a difficult 2023 season.

In 2023, Pogacar entered the Tour de France as a two-time champion and one of the sport's brightest stars. However, his season took a challenging turn when he suffered a wrist fracture at Liege-Bastogne-Liege in April. This injury hampered his preparations for the Tour, and he faced a formidable rival and defending champion in Jonas Vingegaard. While Pogacar managed two stage wins, Vingegaard’s dominance was undeniable that year, particularly in the latter stages of the race.

The third week of the Tour highlighted Pogacar’s struggles. In the stage 16 time trial, he lost nearly two minutes to Vingegaard, in a stage where Pogacar himself was miles better than the third placed rider. The next day, Pogačar's fatigue reached a breaking point on the mountainous stage up the brutal Col de la Loze, where he dropped like a stone and was heard over the team radio saying, “I’m gone, I’m dead.” These performances showcased how comprehensively Vingegaard had outmatched him in 2023.

The defeat spurred Pogacar to come back stronger in 2024. His Triple Crown victory, coupled with wins at Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Il Lombardia, solidified his place among the sport’s all-time greats. Pogacar’s rebound is a testament to his determination to learn from setbacks and use them as fuel for success, and he’ll be hoping for more of the same in 2025.

Mark Cavendish, often hailed as the "Manx Missile," appeared to be nearing the end of his career by 2020. Battling illness, injuries, and mental health struggles, Cavendish endured a prolonged victory drought. Between 2016 and 2020, the once-dominant sprinter found himself struggling to secure wins and facing questions about whether he could return to the top, and he did not win a Tour de France stage following 2016 for five years.

However, in 2021, Cavendish was given an unexpected opportunity by Deceuninck–Quick-Step. Initially brought in to support other sprinters, circumstances changed when Sam Bennett, the team’s lead sprinter, was unable to participate in the Tour de France. Cavendish seized the moment and delivered one of the most remarkable comebacks in cycling history.

Cavendish stunned the cycling world by winning four stages of the Tour, stages 4, 6, 10, and 13, bringing his career tally to 34 stage wins and equalling Eddy Merckx's long-standing record. He also claimed the green jersey, an achievement he hadn’t accomplished since 2011. His performances in 2021 reminded everyone of his raw talent and resilience, marking a fairy-tale return to form, and he of course finally broke Merckx’s record and retired at the end of 2024.

Cavendish’s 2021 season is a powerful story of redemption, proving that even when a career seems over, sheer determination and the right opportunity can reignite greatness from the ashes.

In 2011, Bradley Wiggins was among the favourites for the Tour de France. However, his campaign came to a premature end due to a crash on stage 7, resulting in a broken collarbone. It was a bitter blow for Wiggins, who had shown promise in the previous year’s race.

Rather than letting the setback define him, Wiggins used it as motivation to refine his preparation for 2012, and with the support of Team Sky, he entered the season with laser focus. The results were nothing short of spectacular. Wiggins dominated the Tour de France in 2012, becoming the first British cyclist to win the prestigious race. His victory was built on his exceptional time-trialling abilities and consistent performances in the mountains.

The crowning moment of Wiggins’ 2012 campaign came shortly after the Tour, at the London Olympics, where he won the gold medal in the men’s time trial, further cementing his place in cycling history. His ability to overcome the disappointment of 2011 and achieve such remarkable success in 2012 shows just what the world’s best riders are capable of when pushed to the limit.

Chris Froome’s career is one of the most impressive stories in the history of cycling. After finishing second in the 2012 Tour de France while supporting Bradley Wiggins (when arguably Froome was in better shape to win), Froome established himself as a Grand Tour contender by winning the Tour in 2013. However, his title defence in 2014 was derailed by a series of crashes early in the race, and Froome suffered fractures in his wrist and hand, forcing him to abandon the Tour on stage 5.

Determined to reclaim his place at the top, Froome dedicated himself to recovery and preparation. His efforts culminated in a triumphant return to the Tour de France in 2015, where he secured his second overall victory. Froome went on to dominate the Tour in the following years, winning three consecutive titles from 2015 to 2017, and after winning the Giro in 2018 he held all three grand tour titles at the same time.

Froome’s willpower in the face of setbacks, including injuries and fierce competition, highlights his mental fortitude and commitment to excellence. Without being denied the chance to lead in 2012, and the crash of 2014, he may never have built the extreme mental strength and hunger to dominate as he did.

Primoz Roglic seems to be in need of a comeback every year doesn’t he? But one thing no one can deny about Roglic is his ability to bounce back, as he has done time and time again. One of the most heartbreaking moments in sports history came during the 2020 Tour de France, on that memorable stage 20 time trial. Leading the race heading into the penultimate stage, Roglic appeared poised to claim his first Tour victory, however, a stunning time-trial performance by Tadej Pogacar saw Roglic lose the yellow jersey in dramatic fashion, finishing second overall.

The disappointment was profound, but Roglic used it as motivation to come back stronger, and just a month later he was victorious in the rescheduled Vuelta a Espana of 2020. In 2021, he returned to the Vuelta a Espana after crashing out of the Tour, a race he had already won in 2019 and 2020, and dominated the event to secure his third consecutive victory. Roglic also claimed Olympic gold in the time trial that year, proving his ability to deliver under pressure.

ROglic has since won the Vuelta again in 2024, to bring his tally to four red jerseys, and he also finally gained redemption by winning a final stage mountain time trial to win the Giro d’Italia in 2023. Not bad for a nearly man is it?

Roglic’s career exemplifies the importance of perseverance and learning from setbacks. His ability to bounce back from the disappointment of the 2020 Tour and achieve success on multiple fronts proves his status as one of cycling’s elite, even if that stage in 2020 may always loom over him.

These five cyclists—Tadej Pogacar, Mark Cavendish, Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome, and Primoz Roglic—demonstrate how it possible to come back stronger from a year of hardships. Their stories of overcoming adversity to achieve greatness inspire fans and remind us that setbacks are merely stepping stones to success, and many riders will be hoping to learn from them in 2025.