Preview: Skipping January, Chasing History
Tadej Pogačar, the 20-win barrier, and where seasons are truly decided
When the Season Starts — and When It Truly Begins
January has become cycling’s ceremonial opening. The first races, the first wins, the first hints of hierarchy. For some riders, it is a month to build volume; for others, a month that barely registers.
Tadej Pogačar belongs firmly to the second group.
While the modern peloton increasingly fires up in January, Pogačar opens his season in March — entering the calendar precisely where history shows the sport begins to reveal its true protagonists.
That distinction matters when evaluating what kind of season might lie ahead.
The 20-Win Barrier — Modern Accumulation vs Modern Efficiency
Since the introduction of UCI trade teams in 1995, surpassing 20 professional victories in a single season has been a rare achievement. Sustaining it across multiple seasons is rarer still.
Pogačar currently stands on two 20+ win seasons. One more would elevate him into a category occupied by just one rider in the past three decades.
