The secret to Tadej Pogacar's success? "Good friend" Jasper Philipsen sees clear answer: "Despite all his success he keeps his feet on the ground"

Jasper Philipsen has offered a revealing insight into what he believes truly sets Tadej Pogacar apart from every other rider in the modern peloton — and it has nothing to do with watts, trophies or rainbow jerseys.

Speaking in conversation with La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Belgian sprinter said the world champion’s dominance is rooted in something much simpler: his ability to remain a normal guy despite the stardom that surrounds him.

Philipsen describes Pogacar as one of his closest friends in the bunch and says the Slovenian’s attitude is unlike anything he has ever seen.

“Tadej is a friend, it’s always a pleasure to see him and to chat,” he told Gazzetta. “We see each other rarely during the year because we have different schedules. I’m not an expert in cycling history, but I don’t think that anyone like him has ever existed.”

While Pogacar’s results command awe — Tour titles, world championships, monument wins — Philipsen believes the real story lies in how unaffected he remains by it all. “I think everyone sees him as a god of this sport, even though I know him as a very normal guy,” he said. “His strength lies in the fact that despite all his success he keeps his feet on the ground and enjoys life.”

That humility, Philipsen suggests, is as much a competitive weapon as his ability to dominate Grand Tours. It shapes how he moves through the peloton, how he interacts with rivals, and even how he handles pressure when expectations spiral beyond anyone else’s.

Philipsen’s perspective carries weight precisely because it comes from inside Pogacar’s small circle of genuine friends in the peloton — riders who see him away from the podiums, cameras and headlines. His comments to La Gazzetta dello Sport offer a reminder that Pogacar’s dominance is built on more than numbers and results; it’s underpinned by an attitude that refuses to let success distort who he is.

And in a sport where pressure, scrutiny and expectation can consume even the most gifted talents, Philipsen believes that Pogacar’s ability to stay grounded may be the single most important reason he continues to sit apart from the rest.

For Philipsen, that quality is not just rare — it is unprecedented. And from someone who spends so much of the season racing against him, Philipsen's message is clear: cycling has never seen a champion quite like Pogacar.