“Champions like Tadej are good for this sport” – Why Tadej Pogacar’s dominance does not trouble a peloton veteran

Starting the new season at the Tour of Oman, Diego Ulissi is racing far from home but speaking with the perspective of a rider who has grown up alongside a rapidly changing peloton. Now one of the most experienced figures in the bunch, the Italian has seen training methods, career paths, and expectations evolve dramatically since his own early years as a professional.

In a wide-ranging interview with Marca, Ulissi reflects on how modern cycling accelerates the development of young riders, a shift he believes may come at the cost of longevity. While the sport continues to get faster and more demanding, he questions whether the current approach risks shortening careers rather than nurturing them.

At the same time, Ulissi offers a measured view on dominance at the very top of the sport, speaking with admiration about former teammate Tadej Pogacar and the impact of true champions on cycling’s appeal.

With his own career entering its later chapters, those reflections naturally extend to questions of balance, motivation, and what comes next.

Ulissi does not hide how different the sport feels compared to when he first turned professional. The biggest change, he explains, is how quickly young riders are now pushed towards the highest level.

“Enormously since I turned professional. In my early years, I didn’t race as much; the idea was to protect young riders and let them grow gradually. Now, from junior level, they train the same way we do and eat the same way.”

While the progression is undeniably faster, Ulissi questions what that acceleration means for career longevity at the top level.

“The progression is faster, but I think careers as professionals are shorter. I don’t know if that’s good or bad, but that’s how it is. I personally believe in doing things more gradually.”

It is a view shaped by experience rather than resistance to change. For Ulissi, the issue is not performance but sustainability, especially in a peloton where physical demands increase year on year.

Despite cycling’s current era being defined by overwhelming winners, Ulissi shows no frustration at the sight of repeated dominance. On the contrary, he believes it benefits the sport.

“No, not at all. Champions like Tadej are good for this sport.”

Ulissi knows Pogacar well from their time as teammates and speaks about him with clear admiration rather than distance. “I know him, he was my teammate. He’s a very humble guy, an example.”

Watching racing as a fan still brings him enjoyment, something he sees as vital for cycling’s wider appeal. “When I’m at home watching races, I enjoy seeing him ride, just like I enjoy watching others such as Van der Poel. That’s good for cycling.”

Staying competitive as the years pass is something Ulissi approaches with realism. Physical decline, he admits, is unavoidable, but experience brings its own advantages.

“It’s difficult because the years pass. I want to remain competitive. If a victory comes, I’ll be happier.”

What changes most with age is how effort is used. “With age, you become more mature: it’s important to use your energy well, because you can’t do the same things you could at 25. You have to choose the right moment in a race.”

That measured approach also shapes how he views objectives, favouring clarity over pressure. “I don’t think you should set big objectives. You have to try to do things well: train well, eat well, do things properly. And live it with a clear head.”

With a long career already behind him, Ulissi is open about how family now weighs heavily in his decisions.

“I’m 37, I can train well, make sacrifices and be away from home. I have three young children and leaving home is traumatic. That’s what I like least, being away from the people I love.”

For now, there is no fixed timeline on retirement, only reflection. “I want to take it year by year. This year, after the Giro d’Italia, I’ll look inside myself. It’s not just about how you perform, but also how much time you spend away from home, from your children, from your wife, from the people you love most.”

When the moment does come, however, Ulissi already knows where he hopes to remain.

“I would like to stay connected to cycling. It’s a passion that I love and that I’ve lived intensely for many years. I’d like to remain in this environment.”