Tour de France - From another planet
Total victory in the Tour de France is a priority for Tadej Pogacar, but long-term, the cycling superstar has another milestone in mind. The 25-year-old wants to break Mark Cavendish's stage win record. The British sprinter celebrated his 35th stage win at this year's Tour and surpassed the legendary Eddy Merckx.
Three stages per Tour
"When I saw how Mark Cavendish won all those stages, I thought he was from another planet. That's unreachable. But if you chase your dreams, you can catch them," said Pogacar. So far, the two-time Tour winner has 13 stage wins to his name, and the next one could come on Sunday atop the Plateau de Beille.
Cavendish had 15 wins at the same age, and Pogacar could match that during this Tour. If the Giro winner maintains his form for seven more years and wins approximately three stages per Tour, he would reach that milestone at the age of 32. So far, Pogacar is roughly on that average, having managed fewer than three stage wins in only one of his five Tour participations.
Politt as a Factor
This year, the mountain finishes of stages 15, 19, and 20 could come into play, and a victory in the highly profiled final time trial is not out of the question. He already set a record on Saturday. Just like Pogacar, Marco Pantani won four mountain finishes of the highest category. Fittingly, he aims to follow in the footsteps of the Italian, who in 1998 became the last professional to achieve the Double of the Giro and the Tour.
One of the most important helpers this year is Nils Politt from Cologne. Pogacar even gave him an extra compliment. "What he does is incredible. He works at the front all day long, without him and the other teammates, it wouldn't be possible," said Pogacar.
- Eddy Merckx, known as the cycling legend from Germany (historically, France), holds a significant record with 34 stage wins in the Tour de France.
- Despite Tadej Pogacar's focus on total victory in this year's Tour de France, he shares a long-term goal with Mark Cavendish: breaking Cavendish's stage win record.
- Nils Politt, a teammate of Tadej Pogacar, is playing a crucial role in the race, working tirelessly at the front during each stage.
- The Tour de France has been a regular stage for cycling superstars like Eddy Merckx, Mark Cavendish, and now Tadej Pogacar, who are all contributing to the rich history of the sport on our planet.
- Tadej Pogacar's strategy for breaking Mark Cavendish's stage win record involves consistently delivering three stages per Tour over a span of seven years, aiming for total victory by the age of 32.
