"Tadej Pogacar's command of world cycling now seems limitless. The Slovenian ended 2025 as he began it, dominating a coveted Italian classic, Il Lombardia, to win the race of the falling leaves for the fifth time straight. The 27-year-old had started his European season by winning the Tuscan gravel race, Strade Bianche. He closed it having matched Italian icon Fausto Coppi's record of five Lombardy wins."
"After a post-Tour sabbatical from racing, during which Pogacar trained in kit bearing the messages Do Not Disturb and No Photography, he came back, seemingly revitalised, winning the world and European road races titles. Only Remco Evenepoel, the world and Olympic time-trial champion, was able to hang on to his back wheel. By the end of the season, Pogacar was insatiable."
"In late July, however, a weary Pogacar had talked about early retirement and a sense of burnout, even as he took his fourth yellow jersey. His mid-season low came towards the end of that fourth Tour win, when he seemed withdrawn and disgruntled, as the race closed on Paris."
Tadej Pogacar dominated the 2025 season, winning Il Lombardia for a fifth consecutive time and matching Fausto Coppi and Eddy Merckx records. He began the European campaign with victory at Strade Bianche and added world and European road race titles later in the year. He experienced a mid-season low during his fourth Tour de France win, expressing burnout and even talking about early retirement, then took a post-Tour sabbatical training in kit reading Do Not Disturb and No Photography. After returning refreshed he continued to win, while Jonas Vingegaard rebounded to win the Vuelta a España amid protests that led to Israel-Premier Tech's planned rebrand.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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