Eddy Merckx predicts Tadej Pogačar's potential Grand Tour sweep

Eddy Merckx predicted that Tadej Pogačar, the soon-to-be-crowned 2026 Tour de France champion, could become the first rider to win all three Grand Tours in a single season. Pogačar is set to be inducted into the Club des Cinq, a prestigious group of five-time Tour winners, later this Sunday. Merckx believes Pogačar could also make history by winning the Giro, Tour, and Vuelta all in one year.

Riding all three of cycling's major stage races is not unprecedented; Pogačar recently became the first rider to win both the Giro and Tour in the same year, achieving this feat in 2024. However, no cyclist has ever finished on the podium of all three Grand Tours in a single season, let alone won them all in the same year. Chris Froome is one of the few athletes to have claimed all three titles within a 12-month period, winning the Tour and Vuelta in 2017 and the Giro in 2018, a path also taken by Merckx in 1972-73.

In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Merckx stated, "I have to compliment him, but I don't think he'll limit himself to equal myself and the other champions; soon he will improve on the number of Tours."

While some speculate that this year's competition was less fierce and that rival Jonas Vingegaard encountered misfortune, Merckx noted Vingegaard's struggles during the Tourmalet stage and doubted his ability to challenge Pogačar effectively.

Merckx was cautious in comparing himself with Pogačar, asserting, "Every era has its own champions. But it's clear that when he became a professional, he knew he had a special talent. Maybe I didn't think he could become as powerful as he has on the climbs."

Moreover, Merckx observed that Pogačar's dominance left him with few rivals during attacks. He acknowledged the fans' desire for thrilling duels but noted that Pogačar often competed on a different level than others.

Looking ahead, Pogačar expressed a desire to fill gaps in his accomplishments, pondering which races remain on his list to conquer. Merckx speculated about the future of French rider Paul Seixas, advising patience and allowing him to grow without pressure.

He praised fellow countryman Remco Evenepoel as the best time trialist globally but expressed skepticism about Evenepoel matching Pogačar's abilities on the climbs.

Merckx reflected on his own experiences, stating that while he did not attempt to win all three Grand Tours in the same year, Pogačar's ambition to pursue all three titles is a matter of separate interest.