"We are lucky to live in the era of the strongest cyclist ever" - Damiano Caruso pays tribute to Tadej Pogacar & reveals 2025 is likely his final season

Now aged 37, Damiano Caruso has seen a lot over the course of his decade and a half in the peloton. In the opinion of the Italian though, no one has ever seen a stronger cyclist than the current world champion, Tadej Pogacar.

"Tadej is doing his job, I have the impression that this boy has a natural gift and that he is surprised when others don't follow him," Caruso begins his assessment of the all-conquering UAE Team Emirates leader in conversation with the Italian OA Sport. "People want to see these things too and we are lucky to live in the era of the strongest cyclist ever."

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Caruso got a first hand view of Pogacar's brilliance at the Giro d'Italia in 2024. Finishing 17th overall in the 20th Grand Tour of his career, Caruso was some way off Pogacar in the general classification and as the 2025 season nears, the former Giro runner-up and stage winner at both his home Grand Tour and the Vuelta a Espana, admits time is beginning to take its toll on his level.  

"I am ninety percent sure that next season will be my last," says the 37-year-old as he enters the final year of his current Bahrain - Victorious contract. "If everything goes smoothly next season and I still enjoy cycling a lot, I might think about it again."

"Last season was certainly not positive, but it made me realise how lucky I have been throughout my career," he concludes honestly. "From the start of the season I noticed that everything was going against me; I have never fallen as often as this year."

Although his programme for the 2025 season is still unclear, could Caruso embark on one final Giro d'Italia before retirement? If he does, he may once again get a close up view of Tadej Pogacar, with the Slovenian reportedly yet to decide if he'll defend his Maglia Rosa next year.

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