"He can do it, but I wouldn't" - Tadej Pogacar sent warning about going after one particular cycling record after Vuelta a Espana start confirmed
CyclingTuesday, 04 August 2026 at 10:10
Tadej Pogacar is chasing history as he looks to follow up his record-equalling Tour de France victory by winning the 2026 Vuelta a Espana - completing the treble of all three Grand Tour triumphs. The hot favourite to win his seventh career Grand Tour, a much bigger record is on the horizon.
No rider has ever been able to win all three Grand Tours in the same season, with Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Chris Froome winning combinations of consecutive Grand Tours, but not in the same season.
With very few riders competing in all three of cycling's longest races in the same season, such an achievement would require a seismic effort from the Slovenian, who would likely have to sacrifice other major season goals such as classics races and the World Championships to aim for the record.
Speculation aside, in just over two weeks, Pogacar will arrive at the Monaco start after finishing the Tour in relatively fresh condition and faces a general classification field significantly less loaded with rivals than at La Grand Boucle.
Speaking ahead of his Monday confirmation, one cycling legend thinks that the World Championships are still an achievable goal even with a Vuelta under his belt. The World Championships road race takes place two weeks after the Vuelta's conclusion.
Tadej Pogacar at the 2026 Tour de France
World Championships after Vuelta
"He's never done two major stage races [Grand Tours, Ed.] in a row, except for the year of the Giro d'Italia. And I think he can aim for the World Championships again," former world champion Maurizio Fondriest said on the "A Voice in the Run" podcast.
"A 250-kilometer race is one thing, but when you start climbing that much… I don't know if Evenepoel will be able to keep up with him."
In terms of competing for the 2026 Vuelta crown, Fondriest thinks that Vingegaard was the only capable suitor, who before his Tour crash even looked 'inferior' to the Slovenian. According to the Italian, Pogacar faces little to no challenge.
He added: "Then we need to figure out who his opponents will be, but hey... Vingegaard could have been the only one, but he crashed, and in any case, he was a bit inferior even at the Tour. The bottom line is that in my opinion he won't have any opponents."
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Three Grand Tours in one season?
When it comes to winning a Giro d'Italia, Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana, he sent a warning to Pogacar. Although stating that he believes it's possible, the potential sacrifice and intensity could come back to bite him in the future.
Instead, he backed Pogacar to continue picking up records gradually, pointing to a sixth Tour de France win putting him exclusively ahead in the rankings and another World Championships bid among targets.
"He can do it, but I wouldn't. He still has some years left where he can try to win, like a sixth Tour, and he'd be the first to do it... then another World Championship. I wouldn't risk such an intense season."
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- (does cutd read comments here to create new content?) Obviously. They want more views, so content that is more popular is clearly what they lean into to do that.
Rafionain-Glas04-08-2026 - Mou, it is truly admirable how you manage to make every conversation an exercise in patience - yours and everyone else’s.anonymouscyclist04-08-2026
- Tadej is not (still) the potential G.O.A.T. ... Stop stuttering... He is THE G.O.A.T. - The Greatest Of All Time.PogiSloFans04-08-2026
- Hey Jumpyjohn, this is how he should do it: Pogi says "This year I want to do the Giro again, I just love this race and the Italians." He does the Giro, wins, and then goes to the Tour. He talks nothing about the Vuelta, if asked he says "No, I'm not doing the Vuelta, I will focus on the WC." After winning the Tour he never mentions the Vuelta. Pogi and his trainer see if Pogi is feeling good and strong, if he still has good legs, then they decide. If they think he can do it... LET'S GO, POGI IS DOING THE VUELTA. OMG!!! Pogi will say "I love the Spaniards!!!" Everyone is going crazy. But if Pogi isn't feeling the best, no one says anything, he just won't go, skip the Vuelta, prepare for the WC and win it. It's a win-win situation.PogiSloFans04-08-2026
- When it comes to winning a Giro d'Italia, Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana, Maurizio Fondriest is sending a warning to Pogačar!?!? First of all, who is Fondriest to send "warnings"? Pogi doesn't know or care about him. Pogi and his trainers will be the ones to decide if he will take on all three GT's in one season. No one knows what will happen because it's never been tried before. I have the feeling that many former BS cyclists and commentators are smarter then Pogi and his team of cycling specialists.PogiSloFans04-08-2026
- You're wrong, it's not too late. This is how it's done: Pogi says "This year I want to do the Giro again, I just love this race." He does the Giro, wins, and then goes to the Tour. He talks nothing about the Vuelta, if asked he says "No, I'm not doing the Vuelta, I will focus on the WC." After winning the Tour he never mentions the Vuelta. Pogi and his trainer see if Pogi is feeling good and strong, if he still has good legs, then they decide. If they think he can do it, LET'S GO, POGI IS DOING THE VUELTA. OMG!!! Everyone is going crazy. But if Pogi isn't feeling the best, no one says anything, he just won't go, skip the Vuelta and once again win the WC. Capish?PogiSloFans04-08-2026
- yeah I was thinking the same - fairly audacious headline.mij04-08-2026
- So we have a cycling equivalent to the Penisgate storm in a teacup at the Ski Jumping event of this year's Winter Olympics!Cooldude04-08-2026
- Tadej doesn't have to win the Vuelta with a lead of more than five minutes over the first runner-up. This means he can ride leisurely, or rather, let it be his preparation for the World Championships. In addition, Remco won San Sebastian just seven days after the Tour, the World Championships are 14 days after the Vuelta... So the chances are not even close to 50/50.MajorPayne04-08-2026
- With all the possibilities that are never discussed and would create endless discussion as to whether it would be real doping, I will NEVER lay my hand in the fire to claim ANY rider is clean (especially having experienced something unexpected myself with over the counter medication as an amateur runner whilst sick). People also seem to have very short memories about what has already happened and wasn’t detected (sometimes for decades) until a mistake or thoughtless act occurred or past material was reviewed. It’s a sad fact that almost all those who want to deny the possibility there is doping, do almost ZERO research on the subject but then claim they know the facts. I don’t believe he’s consciously doing anything but that doesn’t mean nothing is happening. As for why he is so successful? He knows his forte and exploits it predictably. The sad thing is the others haven’t yet understood how to neutralise him but I won’t go into that unless someone else starts it off.Mistermaumau04-08-2026
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