"It's necessary to have him there every year" - Tadej Pogacar on Tour de France rivalry with Jonas Vingegaard

Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard are the Grand Tour rivals of a generation and a decade. From 2021 to 2025, they have finished first and second on every single Tour de France, and the presence of one another raises the level of both. Vingegaard had admitted it, and the Slovenian believes the same.

"I always say that every cyclist or any other sport: everyone wants to face the best possible opponents. I want to see all the competitors at their best in the Tour de France or any other race," Pogacar said in an interview with Marca. And this of course, refers to Jonas Vingegaard, whom he's faced yearly for five seasons now at the Grand Boucle.

"If some miss the race or have bad luck, it's not the same atmosphere and it doesn't feel the same. Also, we motivate each other every year. In the last four years, Jonas has pushed me to another level in the Tour. It's necessary to have him there every year."

If Pogacar is not there, perhaps Pogacar will have a Grand Tour similar to the 2024 Giro d'Italia, without real competition but without real motivation or need to improve either. At some point in his career other riders will begin to reach his level and surpass him in the mountains, but the closeness of the Dane to him pressures him to keep raising the bar every year.

However Pogacar's success is undeniable, and generational. His results in the UCI standings are a good showcase of what he has been able to achieve this year alone. This has seen him grow to a level in fame that surpasses this sport, and turned him into a celebrity even in the microstate of Monaco which is crowded with famous personalities.

In the streets he is often approached, and shares more details about it: "The most difficult thing is to always be available to the media. Nowadays, in the modern era, you always have to be right on social networks, interact with many such things. But at the same time it's a good experience and it brings you a lot to life. The funniest thing is that completely unknown people stop you on the street, in a cafe, in a restaurant... Without thinking about it, they come and ask you for photos. Sometimes it's very funny."

However, he recognizes the importance of not being pressured from the audience or the outside opinion, and remain focused on what is good for him and UAE Team Emirates - XRG:

"I try to limit a lot of things that other people say or speculate about me. I have my own goals, I want to build my own path and finish my career happy, with no regrets. I try to enjoy the moment, find new challenges and not think about critics or what comes from outside. Sometimes it's hard, but you have to focus on yourself and do your own thing."

Pogacar turned pro in 2019 and immediately had a stellar season, culminated with a Grand Tour debut and podium at the Vuelta a España. At the time he was considered one of the very best talents, but every year new ones surge. Currently, even within his team, and others who aim to rival him in the coming years.

"Today everyone is obsessed with young talent. Nobody stops looking for talent, especially in the Tour. That's why we see so many guys already coming in with very good level: strong legs, a strong mind, very professional".

"The young guys now, like Paul Seixas or Isaac Del Toro, are impressive," he exemplifies. "I want to see how their career develops. Maybe it will be completely different from what I have experienced. I can't wait to follow their careers."