"The only rider in the world who can win all races" – Former teammate sheds new light on how good Tadej Pogacar is
Cycling
Wieler Revue recently caught up with Matteo Trentin to
discuss his relationship with Tadej Pogacar. The pair were teammates at UAE
Team Emirates until Trentin made the switch to Tudor Pro Cycling Team last year,
and Trentin gave some insights into how the world’s best rider trains.
The 35-year-old Italian, a stage winner in all three Grand
Tours (including three victories at the Tour de France) shared his experiences
training with the Slovenian superstar.
"Do I like training with him? Well, only when I'm in
really good shape, haha. No, it's always fun with him. He doesn't surprise me
during training anymore, you know. He used to, but now I know how good he is. A
nice anecdote? Well, usually I get dropped on a climb and that's where my story
ends, haha."
Trentin has witnessed firsthand Pogacar's relentless
dedication, acknowledging the questions often raised about his incredible
performances.
"All I can say is that he is really that good. I often
get questions like: is it possible what he does, or is he really that good?
During training he does the same as in the race. You sometimes saw champions
from the past take it easier in training, but not Tadej. He is very
professional and as strong as he rides in the race, he is also in
training."
Now at Tudor Pro Cycling Team, Trentin is set to race
alongside new signings Julian Alaphilippe and Marc Hirschi, with ambitions of
challenging Pogacar in the spring classics. That will be no easy task, given
that Pogacar secured the prestigious triple crown last season, and also won at
Strade Bianche, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and Il Lombardia.
"You know, Tadej is Tadej. We haven’t seen a rider like
him in the last 50 years, and we probably won’t see a rider like him in the
next 50 years."
Pogacar's all-around abilities set him apart from the rest
of the peloton, with Trentin believing that no other rider possesses the same
versatility.
"He is the only rider in the world who can win all
races. The first after the Eddy Merckx era. An important strength of Tadej is
that he works very hard on his 'weak points'. Do I see similarities between
someone like Tadej and Julian or Marc? I think Julian is in a way a bit more
relaxed."
While Alaphilippe and Hirschi are both highly talented,
Trentin sees a clear distinction in their approaches compared to Pogacar’s
all-encompassing dedication.
"He doesn't have to win time trials and that's why he
works less on them. Tadej has to be good at everything, because he wants to win
Grand Tours. Marc is a bit in between in that respect, because he focuses more
on riding classifications than Julian."
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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- Blah Blah Blah !frieders308-11-2026
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