“Tadej Pogacar has reached his ceiling” – But Spanish cycling legend still gives Vingegaard & Evenepoel little chance of closing the gap
Cycling
If Tadej Pogacar has already reached the very best version of himself, then the uncomfortable truth for everyone else is that it may not matter.
That is the verdict from Spanish cycling legend Pedro Delgado, speaking in a wide-ranging interview with Marca, where he argued that Pogacar has already hit his absolute top level, but that this level is still so high it keeps him comfortably ahead of his closest rivals.
When asked directly whether Pogacar has already reached his ceiling, Delgado did not hesitate. “I think so, that he reached it last year.”
For Delgado, that does not mean decline. It means Pogacar has reached the highest possible version of himself, and can now simply remain there. “With my experience, he can maintain that ceiling for three years without a problem.”
In Delgado’s view, the current version of Pogacar is not about to fade away. “This year he’ll continue to be untouchable and in 27 as well.” Only later, he suggests, might something other than the legs become the real test. “In the last Tour de France he looked different, not as natural as always.”
Even then, Delgado is careful to separate physical limits from mental ones. “Physically, right now he has two more years at that level: 26 and 27. In 28, we’ll see.”
Why the gap may stay
If Pogacar is no longer improving, the natural assumption is that rivals might finally be able to catch him. Delgado does not really buy into that.
For him, the story of modern cycling is not always about stars falling, but about others rising. “Sometimes it’s not that you go down, it’s that others go up.”
But even framed that way, he still places Pogacar in a different category. “Pogacar is two steps above the good riders.”
That hierarchy, in Delgado’s mind, still leaves Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel chasing something that remains out of reach. “Vingegaard is one step below him, but one above others like Evenepoel.”
In other words, even if Pogacar has already peaked, Delgado believes that peak is still high enough to control the sport for the next couple of seasons. His ceiling is not a warning sign, but a benchmark that no one else has yet reached.
The only space Delgado sees for genuine movement is among the next layer of challengers. “I’d like to see the development of Lipowitz, to see if he takes another step up.”
But until that happens, Delgado’s message is stark. Tadej Pogacar may already be the best version of himself, but that version is still good enough to keep Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel and everyone else looking up for some time yet.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- You're right about Kieran Wood, but he keeps reminding us he's the big Deputy Editor-in-Chief !?!? He says his focus is on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. Kieran also says he places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available. So... he's gotta be right in saying Pogi is a four time TDF winner!?!? ... or maybe not!?!? LOL !!!PogiSloFans03-11-2026
- A busy boy!Lozza03-11-2026
- I hope 2027 is his year.mij03-11-2026
- why does he have to? many GT riders from Froome to Contador to Indurain didn't do them.mij03-11-2026
- I think Jonas would have lost the TDF by 4+ minutes (at the least) and might not have even been in the top 3. Too much talent in the younger riders to say anyone not named Pogačar would have been top 3md197503-11-2026
- this is just stupid. you already have 23%, gravel is over the topabstractengineer03-11-2026
- There was once a time when Lance was supremely popular and he used his artificial "It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life" persona to lead his mob in going after Greg. There was no one Lance did not abuse in protecting his phony hero image. Lance promoted himself as a divine megastar and he let down millions of cancer victims and gullible devotees who clung far too long to the charade. Lance is the epitome of a corrupt person and because of his power, many around him, including business enterprises, succumbed to the evil. All who got in Armstrong's way were mercilessly attacked by him and his minions. This remarkably continues today with a new generation. LeMond was a number one enemy and paid a huge price. Who do you think slandered who?Yepperoni03-11-2026
- You despise him because he calls out the truth....OK clown !frieders303-11-2026
- JV is really slighting himself with not doing the 1 dayers.. 🤷
leedorney02-11-2026 - Watch the interview on youtube. I don't speak French. I do speak English and Spanish and you can hear it in his voice. Years ago LeMond had real personal problems I imagine in no small part because of Armstrong. then Armstrong goes round "full blast" re: LeMond having drinking and drug problems. The same way Andreu was expelled from mainstream cycling so was LeMond. On the positive side the clips of the ride and chatting with old teammates and was good. To seemed like a fun day and experience and good reason brush up his French.atom02-11-2026
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