"Tadej wants to win everything" - Alberto Contador praises Pogacar as the 'greatest rider in history'
Cycling
Alberto Contador knows where Tadej Pogacar stands in cycling history. The former Spanish rider believes the Slovenian has already reached a level of dominance that makes him the greatest rider of all time. He made the emphatic assessment in 'Anatomy of a G.O.A.T', the Eurosport and HBO Max documentary examining the UAE Team Emirates - XRG leader.
Contador is not simply highlighting the Slovenian's palmarès or his ability to win the biggest races on the calendar. His argument goes further. He believes it is especially difficult to find another athlete, even in a sport other than cycling, who has maintained such dominance over so many months of competition.
“Tadej Pogacar is the greatest rider in history”
Contador begins with a statement that makes his position clear in one of cycling's biggest debates: who deserves to rank first among the greatest riders of all time.
“For me, Tadej Pogačar is the greatest rider in history,” the Spaniard declared.
Tadej Pogacar at the 2026 Vuelta a España
He also linked that assessment to the Slovenian's competitive ambition. Pogačar does not seem content to dominate a single race or build his legacy around one goal. He wants to keep adding major victories and win as many titles as his career will allow.
“Tadej wants to win everything. I think he wants to win as many Monuments as he can, as many Tours de France as he can, as many world titles as he can, and as many Tour stages as he can,” Contador explains.
That ambition is one of the defining features of the UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider. His ability to target very different goals in the same season has made him difficult to compare with the great champions of past eras.
The comparison with Usain Bolt and other great athletes
Contador considers Pogačar's dominance so extraordinary that it is difficult to find parallels outside cycling. The Spaniard said he tried to find examples in other sports when reflecting on the Slovenian's superiority, but found few that matched what Pogačar is achieving.
“You start thinking about it, and it is very difficult to find an athlete in another sport, at any point in history, who has been this far ahead of their rivals,” he argues.
One name that came to mind was Usain Bolt, widely regarded as one of athletics' all-time greats. Contador, however, sees a key difference in how long Pogačar sustains his dominance across the calendar.
“I thought about it and said, ‘Well, Usain Bolt.’ But Tadej Pogačar is doing this from February to October, in every race he enters,” he explains.
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For the former Spanish rider, that is one of the Slovenian's most remarkable qualities: his ability to maintain an extraordinary level for almost the entire season, whatever the type of race or the goal ahead.
Contador's assessment shows just how much perceptions of Pogačar have shifted within cycling. His drive to keep winning Monuments, Grand Tours, world championships, and stage victories fuels a debate about history that, in the Spaniard's view, already has a clear answer.
Jorge BorregueroWriter
Jorge Borreguero is a journalist with a degree from the Complutense University of Madrid and has been a writer for Cyclinguptodate and Ciclismoaldia since early 2023. In this role, he has played a key part in the evolution of the website, particularly as a specialist covering Movistar Team. He regularly writes race reports, analytical pieces, and in-depth features about the team, and has conducted exclusive interviews and attended multiple team presentations, providing readers with firsthand insights into one of the leading professional cycling squads.
Throughout his career, Jorge has maintained a strong focus on sports journalism, gaining experience across a variety of disciplines, including basketball and football. However, his current work is almost entirely dedicated to cycling, contributing extensively to Ciclismoaldia and its sister website Cyclinguptodate. For these platforms, he combines thorough research with detailed reporting to deliver high-quality content, ranging from race previews and results to expert analysis of teams and riders.
Jorge’s reporting is marked by accuracy, depth, and a commitment to providing readers with reliable and authoritative information. His direct engagement with teams, athletes, and events ensures that his coverage reflects firsthand knowledge and professional insight. Through his work, he has established himself as a trusted voice in professional cycling journalism, bridging the gap between the sport and its global audience while maintaining rigorous editorial standards.
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- You're WRONG!!! ... Capish?PogiSloFans10-11-2026
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leedorney10-11-2026 - If I was Lucinda Brand, I'd refuse to wear the jersey. Is there a rule that she "has to" wear it, as the winner? It would certainly feel like stolen valor.wrsty10-11-2026
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