UAE boss believes we haven't seen the best of Tadej Pogacar yet: "He's still 26 and we know that he can improve physically until he's at least 30"
Cycling
Tadej Pogacar is currently wrapping up the best season of his career. So far... So far? Because his UAE Team Emirates boss Mauro Gianetti believes the Slovenian is still yet to reach his absolute peak after a season with victories of Giro, Tour, Liege, Strade, Montreal and Catalunya, ... Maybe he plans to grow another pair of legs?
"He's still so young," Gianetti asserts in an interview with WielerFlits. "He's still 26 and we know that riders can improve physically until they're at least 30. It's also necessary that he continues to develop, because the competition does that too. I think that's especially true for guys like Remco Evenepoel, and the young guys who are coming up."
"It’s an incredible season," Gianetti exhales. "And then finally came the big goal: the double.. Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France. That went so well, so convincing. It is difficult for us to realize what he has achieved, because it is unprecedented."
Pogacar's agent Alex Carera recently suggested the Slovenian would love to win Vuelta a Espana and Tour Down Under in his career. Gianetti refuses to comment about Pogacar's 2025 program for now: "At the moment, we have to stay focused until the Giro di Lombardia. We are now reaching a very important point in the cycling season with the World Championships. When all the races are done, we will take it easy. We also have to wait for the routes of the Giro, Tour and Vuelta. Of course, the courses will also influence his new season structure."
And so, we should wait for at least two more months until the Slovenian's list of victories plans for 2025 begin to take a final shape. "These are important decisions to make. You have to make them calmly, not in the hectic pace of the race, because then you might make a mistake. So we will make the final decisions somewhere in November or December."
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses 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.
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MarkFour07-11-2026 - This is a really interesting idea, which, if well prepared could even be very successful. Very little money needs to be involved for a first season and any success could lead to rapid interest from sponsors.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
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