"I was clearly faster than last year" - Tadej Pogacar believes his 2026 self is his best version
Cycling
Tadej Pogacar has had his best spring to date, winning Milano-Sanremo, the Tour of Flanders, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Strade Bianche - aside from the Tour de Romandie. He is now gearing up for the Tour de France, a race in which he may reach his best-ever level.
2026 Pogacar to top 2024 Tour Pogacar?
The numbers are very high, but they tell a story. In race, it was at the 2024 Tour that both Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard and also Remco Evenepoel reached their best-ever climbing numbers. The ascents to Plateau de Beille and Isola 2000 set up performances that haven't been replicated since.
But in 2025, the fatigue of a three-week race in which Visma focused on constant attacks, as well as a first week marked by explosive hilly stages, a time trial, crosswinds and more, led to the duo not reaching their absolute best numbers once they reached the high mountains.
Pogacar is not in control of Visma's tactics for the upcoming Grand Boucle; but his current Tour de Suisse performance that he is in great form. But it's not just what is seen on the road, but rather what Pogacar said himself regarding his numbers in training.
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The best version of Pogacar yet?
The World Champion's post-classics training was based on the longer efforts and weight loss, the opposite of what he worked towards in the classics. It seems as though he has achieved what he wanted.
“During the recent training camp in the Sierra Nevada, there is a climb where I tested myself last year. I managed to set a really good time there back then,” Pogacar shared with L'Équipe. “I remember thinking: wow, I don't believe I will ever be able to go faster".
"This year, at the end of the training camp, just for fun, I decided to give it another try". The results? "In the end, I was clearly faster than last year. So yes, I would say that I am stronger than in 2025. Certainly, from a training perspective.”
Translating the watts into a race scenario is naturally not a simple task, as the sport has plenty variables that come in the way. But the signs point towards the potential of the UAE Team Emirates - XRG showing his best-ever level at the upcoming Tour de France - with the Tour de Suisse likely to be conquered this Sunday afternoon.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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- as we all like the david-style rebels, he will leave a gap.Ketterechts12-11-2026
- Oy, don't insult girlsHills3312-11-2026
- lol yeah. this is a good onemij12-11-2026
- Mads is the best: I didn’t even know there were rules in cyclocross. I just thought it was a matter of: ‘Go, three, two, one, ride.’ It’s like a street fight, a kind of underground brawl. It’s the MMA of cycling he gives the best quotes.mij12-11-2026
- he's too young. he's 23, so not really a fair call yet.mij12-11-2026
- and don't forget Pidcock's departure. maybe he will never win a GT, but he knows how to light up a race.mij12-11-2026
- Bingo...I was going to say a 12 year obsessed Pogi fan girlie ! Like she's chasing a teen boy band! All glossy eyed about tadej!frieders312-11-2026
- That stint in the Pink was so good. If memory serves he struggled with the champagne cuz he'd never been on the podium before. I feel like it gave him some self-belief, and yeah - then the move to Visma to be one of their lieutenants has really brought him to the best version of himself.wrsty12-11-2026
- So, you never really compared Paul Seixas with his main rival Isaac Del Toro why jump to Pogačar? They've (Paul & Isaac) raced together here and there, and they've both shared in wins and losses, I think they should be compared to each other, even with Vingegaard and Remco first before even touching Pogačar. From your writing it's like he's better than Vingegaard, Remco and Del Toro already that his main target is now Pogačar 🤔Sadick11-11-2026
- gee i hope its a minor injury. a great rider and ambassador for the sport. get well soon Lucinda.
Davide11-11-2026
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