"The best cyclist in history" - Alberto Contador praises Tadej Pogacar and sees no rivals for his Vuelta title pursuit
CyclingWednesday, 19 August 2026 at 14:38
The 2026 Vuelta a España will begin this Saturday and in Monaco, one rider takes up the biggest spotlight: Tadej Pogacar. Alberto Contador, former winner of La Vuelta, has praised the Slovenian and shared his thoughts on the battles that lay ahead in the coming three weeks.
The Slovenian is yet to conquer the red jersey. His first participation in 2019 saw him win three stages and finish third on the GC; however he hasn't returned to the final Grand Tour of the season since, prioritizing the Tour de France and World Championships.
This year he does, and at the prime of his career, with a level that sees him become almost untouchable in the mountains. Can he be challenged at the Vuelta?
"I don't think so. Well, it depends on what we mean by excitement. If the excitement lies in knowing who's going to win, then it's true that Tadej Pogacar has a very good chance and leaves less room for the other riders," Alberto Contador said in an extensive interview with AS.
"But, in terms of the spectacle, I think with Pogacar there will be more excitement and more excitement". It is a return that truly marks the race, beginning from Pogacar's own front door in Monaco, where he lives throughout the year.
He comes after his record-matching fifth win at the Tour de France, and aims to achieve what Jonas Vingegaard did earlier this year: Become a winner of all three Grand Tours.
Contador sees no realistic way for him to lose it. "I think it depends on Pogacar himself, on whether or not he has any problems. Right now, I don't see any rider capable of beating him".
"In the general classification, no. I don't see anyone capable of challenging Tadej in the overall standings. As for the stages, I think it will be a great spectacle, with some riders who can challenge him, like Van Aert or Pedersen".
Tadej Pogacar, the best cyclist in history?
'El Pistolero' is not shy of praising the current World Champion, a rider who is not only marking an entire generation but also the outlook of the entire sport. Asked directly by the Spanish news outlet on whether he can be rated above Eddy Merckx, Contador responded:
"In terms of numbers, no. If he wins the triple crown, he wouldn't surpass Merckx statistically. The question is whether we consider him the best cyclist in history or not. That's a different matter".
"And for me, Pogacar is the best cyclist in history. Not because of the numbers, because he hasn't yet reached Merckx's figures in Monuments or Grand Tours, nor in Tour de France stage wins or overall classification victories. But above all, what I base my opinion on is the sheer superiority with which Tadej Pogacar wins".
"There are many ways to win, but when you win with such superiority over your rivals in a sport as professionalized as it is today, that's what makes me choose Tadej Pogacar as the best cyclist in history".
2026 has been a prime example of that dominance, with the World Champion winning races like Milano-Sanremo and the Tour of Flanders, terrain where the Grand Tour specialists have often stood no chances over the previous decades in cycling.
But his victories in races like Strade Bianche, Tour de Suisse and the recent Tour de France outline how he is a rider of a different caliber from his competition - even when that applies to the Tour, where he faces his strongest competitors.
Read also
Who might join Pogacar on the Vuelta podium?
Amongst many other topics, Contador also discussed the riders who can join Pogacar on the podium, if that is to be the scenario later on in Granada. His own teammate and last year's runner-up João Almeida was an option, but in UAE's rivals there are plenty contenders.
"We also have to keep an eye on [Primoz] Roglic, and we'll see how he's doing after his crash and how he's prepared for the race. Despite not having a great season, after all, having already secured four victories and aiming for a fifth, he's probably prepared perfectly for the Vuelta a España".
"Then there's Carapaz. We'll see how he approaches the race: whether he's focused on the overall classification or if he opts for a strategy similar to the one he used in the Tour. We'll also have Cian Uijtdebroeks, who had to abandon the Tour de France. Oscar Onley is another interesting option, as is Felix Gall. In the end, there's a good group of riders, but no clear favorite beyond Pogacar," he concluded.
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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- I wonder if he will throw in gravel races? maybe even CX? It was rumored that he wanted to ride the gravel world championships last year, and even a cross race.mij19-08-2026
- I'd love to have his "dry patch". Last year was one of his worst and he still won a stage in the Giro and TdF.mij19-08-2026
- What's the problem now? They bought a versatile but not excellent at anything good ridervappaxbipmv19-08-2026
- what's all the patriotic BS about anyways here? the point is that nationality-based races have sort of died out in road cycling since many years. back in the days the tdf rosters were nationality-based and they rode in the same jersey. but that is long gone. tell me about any race in road cycling where racing for one's country objectively means something ... an exception maybe being the olympics because you contribute to your country's medal total. but also here, the fame goes mostly to the individual rider. there is no history in nationality-based races in cycling. there is no 'slovenia has won the world championships in road cycling three times in a row'. there is only 'tadej won it (well, will have won it) three times in a row'. so please stop talking about patriotic duties in a discipline where nobody cares about this. you could run the same argument for hockey or many other sports. why do the NHL pros not run for their country in hockey world championships? they don't because in their pro leagues nobody cares. they continue their play-off season over there. according to the argumentation of some of you guys here, all of them would have to be called un-patriotic. heck, back in the days the US even sent their college boys to the basketball olympics instead of the pros. bottom line, nobody cares in cycling about nationalities. cycling races are individual matters. and you cannot impose some patriotic whatever to something where this simply hasn't mattered for ages.Ketterechts19-08-2026
- It was a sarcastic comment in response to Mistermaumau's ridiculous comment about wishing for war to prove loyalty to one's country
Rafionain-Glas19-08-2026 - We also have to read "between the lines. " One of his clauses is "greater control over his race programme." That tells me a lot. Pogi has said on many occasions, that he prefers one day races over stage races. In one day races you give it all you've got, especially if it's a famous one day race like the Monuments or other historical classics, where all the best cyclists show up. No thinkig and calculating about the race that happened yesterday and the race that will be tomorrow or the next day, like in stage races. It's that one day, when you leave your heart on the road. That's what Pogi loves. So my take is: When Pogi will win another 2 to 3 TdF it will be over for him. That's where his clause "greater control over his race programme" will be impemented. That's why he's preparing Del Toro, to take over the Giro, Tour and Vuelta races, and Pogi will concentrate only on one day races in his "old age." He will put on more muscle and weight and race most of the classics. I can hardly wait those days to come!!!PogiSloFans19-08-2026
- Yeah, exactly... you just can't handle the truth. I just don't understand why you hate His Royal Infalible Pogness???PogiSloFans19-08-2026
- One more thing they talked about: Carera did not disclose all the details, while Benson cites the possibility of discussions about copyrights and the use of Pogačar's own advertising material, used to promote his own brand and products. The Tadej Pogačar official logo is “T” and “P” - identifying him. The MET helmets already use this logo. All I can say; We are watcing a legend being "born" and his legacy will go on for decades.PogiSloFans19-08-2026
- Die for your country? What nonsense Raf! I understand that that is a quote from Wilfred Owens anti war poem but you have used it out of context here.Cyclingsbestfan19-08-2026
- seems like he has no plans to retire early. that probably ends all the potential burnout rumors after last year‘s tdf.Ketterechts19-08-2026
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