ANALYSIS | Tadej Pogacar set to join Bartali, Hinault and Kelly as he chases down Merckx

At just 26 years old, Tadej Pogacar has surged into 11th place on the all time ProCyclingStats (PCS) rankings as of May 23, 2025. The Slovenian phenom made a six-place leap up the standings, placing himself just one spot away from the top ten legends of the sport. It’s a staggering ascent achieved in a handful of seasons, and it’s made even more astonishing by how young he still is.

So we'll remind you again: Pogacar is still just 26. 26!

Pogacar’s 1560.5 point total essentially puts him level with Fausto Coppi, one of the most legendary figures in cycling history. For long-time fans of the sport, seeing Pogacar’s name on the same page as Merckx, Hinault, and Bartali is not just surprising, it’s thrilling. It shows we are witnessing true greatness, and perhaps the greatest rider we will ever see.

It provokes a compelling question: how does this young superstar’s trajectory stack up against the all time greats, and what might his legacy become if he keeps climbing?

To understand what this means, context is everything. PCS rankings are less about understanding algorithms and more about appreciating what consistent excellence looks like over a rider’s career. Being 11th all-time at 26 years old is a testament to how complete Pogacar’s palmarès already is. The list above him reads like a cycling Mount Rushmore, and catching up to them will require him maintaining this level for years to come.

But so far, Pogi is showing no signs of slowing down.

Take Eddy Merckx, perched at number one with a mind boggling 3856.7 PCS points. Known as "The Cannibal," Merckx’s career was defined by an insatiable hunger to win everything, from Grand Tours to one-day classics, to world titles too. He collected 525 wins throughout his career including 11 Grand Tour titles and all five Monuments, most more than once. Merckx was the gold standard of dominance, and it’s no surprise his points total is nearly double the next rider.

And then there’s Sean Kelly, the king of consistency. Second on the PCS list with 2172.3 points, Kelly didn’t conquer Grand Tours the way Merckx did, but his decade plus of success in the classics and week-long stage races is unmatched. His seven consecutive Paris-Nice victories and nine Monument wins reflect a rider who showed up strong from February to October.

Third is Francesco Moser, the Italian legend with 273 wins to his name. His three consecutive Paris-Roubaix titles, Giro d’Italia victory, and Hour Record in 1984 shows just what a range of abilities he had. Moser was not the mountain man, but he was unbeatable on flat and cobbled terrain. He also embraced technological innovation at a time when it wasn’t the norm and used it to carve out victories in races where raw power and aerodynamic efficiency mattered most, and he certainly would’ve been a legend in today’s peloton too.

In fourth sits Bernard Hinault, France’s last Tour winner and a ferocious competitor. With ten Grand Tour victories and multiple Monuments, including Liège and Paris-Roubaix, Hinault's career was full of iconic moments. He won with his legs, yes, but also with his heart and fists, literally, in one infamous incident. Hinault was known not just for his victories, but for the drama he brought to every race, a warrior in the truest sense.

Fifth is Roger De Vlaeminck, the monument master and Merckx's great rival. Known as "Mr. Paris-Roubaix," he won all five Monuments and excelled particularly in the classics. He wasn’t just successful; he was stylish, sharp, and brilliant in the races which often see the most challenging conditions.

Alejandro Valverde holds sixth, reflecting a different kind of greatness, that of remarkable longevity. Over a 21-year career, Valverde amassed 133 victories, including a Vuelta win, four Lièges, and a World Championship at age 38. He was never dominant in Grand Tours, but his sheer consistency kept him high in the PCS tally. Racing through multiple generations, Valverde remained a constant figure, reinventing himself to match the times as the peloton evolved.

Seventh is Jacques Anquetil, the first five time Tour winner and master of the time trial. Known as "Monsieur Chrono," Anquetil combined meticulous preparation to dominate the late 1950s and early 60s, and he was a relentless winner. His cool, calculated approach was a far cry from the attacking fury of Merckx or Hinault, but equally effective.

Eighth is Rik Van Looy, the original all-Monuments man. With 367 career wins and two World Championships, Van Looy embodied Flemish dominance in the 50s and 60s. He pioneered the template for the dominant classics rider, backed by a loyal team and unshakeable confidence. The legend passed awa in December 2024, aged 90.

Ninth comes Laurent Jalabert, France's most complete rider of the 90s. Originally a sprinter, Jalabert evolved into a world-class climber and time trialist. His 1995 season, including a Vuelta win and Monument victories, remains legendary. It is very rare that we see such adaptation in cycling, or any other sport, but Jalabert pulled it off.

And rounding out the top ten is none other than Gino Bartali. A hero on and off the bike, Bartali won Grand Tours both before and after WWII. His 1948 Tour win is credited with easing political tensions in Italy, and his off-bike heroism during the war remains unmatched. Bartali’s achievements came despite a world in turmoil, and that makes them all the more remarkable. In fact, Bartali’s two Tour de France wins came 10 years apart, but who knows how many he could have won had it not been for the war.

Now comes Pogacar. His record at 26 already rivals many careers. Three Tour de France victories, three Liège-Bastogne-Liège, four Il Lombardia titles, a Giro d’Italia, a world title, two Tour of Flanders.

If Pogacar can add Roubaix, Sanremo, and the Vuelta to his palmares, it will be very difficult for anyone to argue that he is not the GOAT.

His style draws parallels to Merckx, and not since the Belgian have we seen such an incredible range, and Hinault has already said Pogacar reminds him of the old warriors. He doesn’t ride to calculate; he rides to win. That attacking instinct and panache has earned him fans worldwide.

That attitude has pushed Pogacar into the conversation not just as the best of his generation, but as a legitimate threat to the all-time hierarchy. And he is showing no signs of slowing down.

If his form continues, he could leap past Bartali and Jalabert soon. Whether he matches Valverde’s consistency, Anquetil’s Grand Tour tally, or even De Vlaeminck’s Monument breadth remains to be seen. But if the past few seasons have shown anything, it’s that Pogacar is not afraid of a challenge. He relishes it.

What’s more, he’s doing this in an era where cycling is more competitive than ever. The depth of the field, the advancements in sports science, and the sheer number of elite riders make it harder to dominate. And yet, Pogacar does.

The coming years will be telling. Will he go for the Vuelta this summer? Will he turn second into first at Roubaix? Can he finally master the Sanremo puzzle? In a sport that thrives on narrative, Pogacar is delivering one of the great stories.

As of May 2025, Tadej Pogacar is knocking on the door of cycling immortality. When he breaks into that top 10 (likely soon) it won’t just be a statistic. It will be the latest confirmation that we are indeed witnessing a once in a generation talent.

And perhaps, the greatest rider we have ever seen.