Is Tadej Pogačar the GOAT?

Tadej Pogačar may have had a phenomenal season, but has he done enough to cement his status as the greatest of all time? Chris Marshall-Bell weighs the arguments for and against

Tadej Pogacar racing Strade Bianche
Tadej Pogačar can dominate at Strade Bianche as well as the Tour de France - but is he the best, ever?
(Image credit: Zac Williams/SWpix.com)

Last December, Tadej Pogačar unveiled his bold plans for 2024. He said he would aim not only for the elusive GiroTour double, but also the rare triple crown – adding victory in the road race World Championship.

Yet, in his characteristically laidback manner, seemingly unfazed by the weight of expectation on his shoulders, the then 25-year-old seemed not to be taking anything for granted: “[The season] could be super good, really good, or not so good – I won’t say bad, but mediocre.” What transpired went beyond “super good” – it was one of the most spectacular displays of dominance we’ve ever witnessed in pro cycling. It has left fans and pundits asking the inevitable question: is Pogačar the greatest male cyclist of all time – is he the GOAT?

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Tour de France Row 1 - Cell 1 Row 1 - Cell 2 Row 1 - Cell 3 xxxxRow 1 - Cell 8 xRow 1 - Cell 10 Row 1 - Cell 11
Giro d’Italia Row 2 - Cell 1 Row 2 - Cell 2 xRow 2 - Cell 4 xRow 2 - Cell 6 xxxRow 2 - Cell 10 Row 2 - Cell 11
Vuelta a España Row 3 - Cell 1 Row 3 - Cell 2 Row 3 - Cell 3 Row 3 - Cell 4 Row 3 - Cell 5 Row 3 - Cell 6 Row 3 - Cell 7 xRow 3 - Cell 9 Row 3 - Cell 10 Row 3 - Cell 11
World Championship Row 4 - Cell 1 xRow 4 - Cell 3 Row 4 - Cell 4 Row 4 - Cell 5 xRow 4 - Cell 7 Row 4 - Cell 8 xRow 4 - Cell 10 Row 4 - Cell 11
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Tour of Flanders Row 6 - Cell 1 Row 6 - Cell 2 Row 6 - Cell 3 xRow 6 - Cell 5 Row 6 - Cell 6 Row 6 - Cell 7 Row 6 - Cell 8 Row 6 - Cell 9 xRow 6 - Cell 11
Paris-Roubaix Row 7 - Cell 1 Row 7 - Cell 2 xRow 7 - Cell 4 xRow 7 - Cell 6 Row 7 - Cell 7 xRow 7 - Cell 9 Row 7 - Cell 10 Row 7 - Cell 11
Liège-Bastogne-LiègeRow 8 - Cell 1 Row 8 - Cell 2 Row 8 - Cell 3 xRow 8 - Cell 5 xxxRow 8 - Cell 9 xRow 8 - Cell 11
Il LombardiaRow 9 - Cell 1 Row 9 - Cell 2 Row 9 - Cell 3 Row 9 - Cell 4 Row 9 - Cell 5 xxRow 9 - Cell 8 Row 9 - Cell 9 Row 9 - Cell 10 Row 9 - Cell 11
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Tour de France Row 1 - Cell 1 xxRow 1 - Cell 4 Row 1 - Cell 5 xRow 1 - Cell 7 Row 1 - Cell 8 Row 1 - Cell 9 Row 1 - Cell 10 Row 1 - Cell 11
Giro d’Italia Row 2 - Cell 1 Row 2 - Cell 2 Row 2 - Cell 3 Row 2 - Cell 4 Row 2 - Cell 5 xRow 2 - Cell 7 Row 2 - Cell 8 Row 2 - Cell 9 Row 2 - Cell 10 Row 2 - Cell 11
Vuelta a España Row 3 - Cell 1 Row 3 - Cell 2 Row 3 - Cell 3 Row 3 - Cell 4 Row 3 - Cell 5 Row 3 - Cell 6 Row 3 - Cell 7 Row 3 - Cell 8 Row 3 - Cell 9 Row 3 - Cell 10 Row 3 - Cell 11
World Championship Row 4 - Cell 1 Row 4 - Cell 2 Row 4 - Cell 3 Row 4 - Cell 4 Row 4 - Cell 5 xRow 4 - Cell 7 Row 4 - Cell 8 Row 4 - Cell 9 Row 4 - Cell 10 Row 4 - Cell 11
Milan-San Remo Row 5 - Cell 1 Row 5 - Cell 2 Row 5 - Cell 3 Row 5 - Cell 4 Row 5 - Cell 5 Row 5 - Cell 6 Row 5 - Cell 7 Row 5 - Cell 8 Row 5 - Cell 9 Row 5 - Cell 10 Row 5 - Cell 11
Tour of Flanders Row 6 - Cell 1 Row 6 - Cell 2 Row 6 - Cell 3 Row 6 - Cell 4 xRow 6 - Cell 6 Row 6 - Cell 7 Row 6 - Cell 8 Row 6 - Cell 9 Row 6 - Cell 10 Row 6 - Cell 11
Paris-Roubaix Row 7 - Cell 1 Row 7 - Cell 2 Row 7 - Cell 3 Row 7 - Cell 4 Row 7 - Cell 5 Row 7 - Cell 6 Row 7 - Cell 7 Row 7 - Cell 8 Row 7 - Cell 9 Row 7 - Cell 10 Row 7 - Cell 11
Liège-Bastogne-Liège Row 8 - Cell 1 Row 8 - Cell 2 xRow 8 - Cell 4 Row 8 - Cell 5 xRow 8 - Cell 7 Row 8 - Cell 8 Row 8 - Cell 9 Row 8 - Cell 10 Row 8 - Cell 11
Il LombardiaRow 9 - Cell 1 Row 9 - Cell 2 xxxxRow 9 - Cell 7 Row 9 - Cell 8 Row 9 - Cell 9 Row 9 - Cell 10 Row 9 - Cell 11

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