"Now I have to find a new goal" - Tadej Pogacar wins record-equalling fifth Tour de France as he hints at Vuelta a Espana start
Cycling
Tadej Pogacar has joined an even more exclusive club. The Slovenian claimed the 2026 Tour de France on Sunday for the fifth time in his career, matching the greatest legends of the Grande Boucle.
After crossing the line in Paris, where he even fought for the stage win with Mathieu van der Poel before the Dutchman prevailed in the sprint, the UAE Team Emirates-XRG leader dropped a remark that did not go unnoticed and could fuel speculation about a possible appearance at the Vuelta a España.
The champion was emotional about the scale of his achievement, while acknowledging the immense toll it takes to conquer the Tour: “I have no words, really. It’s been incredible. The atmosphere has been spectacular. I’m also happy it’s over. Five Tour wins… It’s a very prestigious club.”
Pogacar reflected on an extraordinary run at the French race, noting he has turned the Tour into the grand stage of his career.
“I’ve ridden seven Tours, been on the podium seven times, and won five. To think I’m writing a history book with all this… I can’t believe it.”
The key to his success
Asked for the recipe to stay at the top year after year, the Slovenian highlighted both the joy on the bike and the environment around him.
“I don’t know, there are many factors. The most important is enjoying what you do and having people around who trust you, help you, stay with you in tough moments, with whom you can be yourself and fight for your dreams.”
That was when he offered a reflection that sparked a flurry of interpretations: “Now I have to look for another goal.”
He never confirmed what that new challenge will be, but the line comes with the next major target on the calendar being the Vuelta a España. In fact, a journalist pressed him even further at the end of the interview.
“Will we see you in Spain?,” he was asked. Pogacar’s reply was brief, but he didn’t shut the door.
“We’ll see. Let’s enjoy this moment.”
It’s not a confirmation, but it is ambiguous enough to keep alive the possibility of seeing him on the start line of the Spanish Grand Tour.
Tadej Pogacar and Isaac del Toro at the 2026 Tour de France
A word for Vingegaard
Pogacar also paid tribute to his rivals, congratulating Remco Evenepoel and Isaac del Toro, who completed the final podium, and remembering Jonas Vingegaard, forced to abandon during the race.
“It’s an incredible podium. They’re incredible champions I had to battle against. It’s a pity about Jonas Vingegaard, who had to abandon, and other riders too. I wish them the best and hope to fight them again next year.”
Although the final gap in the general classification was large, the Slovenian stressed that dominance on paper does not reflect how hard it is to win the Tour de France.
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“If you come to the Tour de France, you have to suffer. You have to go through a lot to be here. The best rivals, all in great shape, we all give one hundred percent. And that means a huge amount of suffering.”
After sealing his fifth Tour de France and furthering his legend, the big question now is what that “new goal” Pogacar mentioned will be. His words do not confirm he will race the Vuelta a España, but they do not rule it out either. With a terse “we’ll see,” the Slovenian left a door open that could become one of the headline stories at the end of the 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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- maybe this is something else they can protest in the streets of France.mij04-11-2026
- his Roubaix win was amazing. not to take anything away from him - arguably one of MVDP's wins was at the expense of a WVA flat - but so many things need to line up to get one of these. He had a perfect race with fewer bike issues on an attritional course. And crazy strong as usual. Glad he got this done.mij04-11-2026
- Orts was a super smart signing with the new rules regarding cross and UCI pointsmij04-11-2026
- yeah... you're right...PogiSloFans04-11-2026
- Podcast sounds great. Two so called experts stating the f*cking obvious.wrsty04-11-2026
- A mindset that reminds me of Tim Declerq. I loved watching that guy just pound away the kilometers, hours at the front, holding an entire breakaway in check on his own. Bjerg seems like a similar guy. Curling, the team sport.RidesHills04-11-2026
- He will be lol, but he can still win on the climbs hahaawp04-11-2026
- I would love to have his inconsistency. How many wins this year? 2 TdF stages, a WC, a Euro championship, San Sebastian, multiple wins early year. Monument podiums. I'd take it. I don't think he has a chance in the TdF, but he is still amazing.mij04-11-2026
- He's not going to win the TdF. Maybe if they make every single stage a TT he could win. But I still believe Tadej would just sharpen his TT skills and win.mij04-11-2026
- You beat me to it. Should he make a full recovery (likely) and go light early in the year. One, two, three. Don't ask me, I don't give a damn. Should he be on a Feel-Like-He's-Fixin'-to-Die High.Yepperoni04-11-2026
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