“The greatest of all time without a shadow of a doubt” – Adam Blythe believes only Paris-Roubaix stands between Tadej Pogacar and ‘completing cycling’
Cycling
Tadej Pogacar’s Milano-Sanremo victory has shifted the conversation around his career once again, with former British national champion Adam Blythe arguing that the Slovenian is now within touching distance of something that has long felt out of reach in modern cycling.
After finally adding La Primavera to his palmares, Pogacar has removed one of the last perceived gaps in his range, prompting fresh discussion around just how far his dominance can stretch.
A performance that stood apart
Blythe’s reaction on TNT Sports centred not only on the result, but the way Pogacar achieved it. Having been caught up in a crash before the Cipressa, he was briefly forced onto the back foot at a decisive moment in the race.
What followed was a rapid turnaround. Once back in position, Pogacar helped drive the race into its decisive phase before launching the attacks that would ultimately carry him clear alongside Tom Pidcock. “He is an animal. We have seen Pogacar at his best at so many different races, but today it was a different level. Different gravy,” Blythe said, before adding: “Opening that race up the way he did after the crash. Phenomenal. He is the GOAT. No doubt about it.”
For Blythe, it was not simply another Monument win, but a performance that elevated Pogacar beyond comparison.
One race away from “completing cycling”
With Milano-Sanremo now secured, the focus immediately turns to what remains missing.
In Blythe’s view, the answer is clear. “He has one more Monument to win and he has completed cycling. He has Roubaix to win and then the Vuelta.”
That framing reflects Pogacar’s ability to win across the full spectrum of the sport. Already successful in Grand Tours and Monuments that favour both climbers and puncheurs, his versatility continues to stretch beyond traditional boundaries.
Tadej Pogacar crosses the line at Milano-Sanremo 2026
Paris-Roubaix the final frontier
The one remaining piece of that Monument collection is Paris-Roubaix, a race that has historically resisted riders with Pogacar’s profile.
Even so, Blythe believes it is only a matter of time. “The Vuelta, he could probably do in his sleep. Roubaix might be a more difficult one, but after that, the lad has completed cycling.”
It is a bold claim, but one supported by recent evidence. Pogacar’s second place at Paris-Roubaix on debut already showed that he can compete on terrain that has traditionally favoured specialists.
With Milano-Sanremo now added to his palmares, the idea of him conquering Roubaix feels closer than ever.
A legacy already beyond comparison
Even without adding that final Monument, Blythe’s conclusion was definitive, stating: “We throw the term around, but he is the greatest of all time without a shadow of a doubt,” before adding that “there is no rider who was like him, there is no rider we can compare to him. He is just untouchable.”
Milano-Sanremo had long been one of the few races that resisted Pogacar. Now that the barrier has been removed, the conversation has shifted again. Not whether he can win across cycling’s full range, but whether anything meaningful is left for him to conquer at all.
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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