Eddy Merckx: "If anyone can win the Giro, Tour, and Vuelta in the same year, it's Pogacar"

Tadej Pogačar had not yet stepped down from the podium of the 2026 Tour de France, and there are already those who imagine what his next great challenge might be. Eddy Merckx, considered by many to be the greatest cyclist of all time, believes that the Slovenian has the necessary conditions to become the first rider in history capable of conquering the Giro d'Italia, the Tour de France, and the Vuelta a España in the same season.

Eddy Merckx sees Pogačar capable of achieving an unprecedented milestone: winning Giro, Tour, and Vuelta in the same season

The Belgian made these statements in an interview with the Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, signed by journalist Ciro Scognamiglio. Merckx, who this Sunday sees Pogačar equal his record of five victories in the Tour de France, believes that the Slovenian will not be satisfied with matching the great legends of the French race.

“I don't think he will be satisfied with equaling me and the other champions. He will soon surpass our record of victories in the Tour,” said Merckx.  

Beyond the victories in the Tour, the former Belgian champion went a step further and pointed to a goal that remains uncharted in the history of cycling. Although several riders have won the three Grand Tours throughout their careers, and some, like Chris Froome or Merckx himself, linked the three titles within a twelve-month period, no one has managed to conquer the Giro, Tour, and Vuelta within the same calendar.

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“If he is in the right place and the conditions are right, he can do it. He would need to have a very strong team that controls the race to not expend more than necessary. It's not a crazy idea. If there is a rider capable of achieving it, it is Pogačar,” stated the Belgian.

The five-time Tour winner also highlighted the level shown by Pogačar during the 2026 edition of the French round. In his opinion, the Slovenian has been a step above his rivals, and even Jonas Vingegaard, before his withdrawal, did not seem to have the level necessary to threaten the yellow jersey.

Merckx avoided making direct comparisons between generations, although he acknowledged that the evolution of the leader of UAE Team Emirates-XRG has surprised even him.

As he explained, when Pogačar made the leap to professionalism, it was already clear that he was an exceptional talent, but he did not expect him to dominate so authoritatively in the mountains, where he has shattered ascent records during this Tour.  

At just 27 years old and after equaling the record of five Tours, the Slovenian continues to expand a palmarès that, for Merckx, is still far from having reached its peak.