By completing cycling’s “Triple Crown” – as this trio of victories is known – Pogačar joins an exclusive club comprised of just Eddy Merckx, Stephen Roche and Annemiek van Vleuten. This season has confirmed the Slovenian’s status as a generational talent since, unusually for a cyclist, he can win races of almost any length and on different terrains. That includes one-day races like the world championships, which require an explosiveness normally sacrificed by Tour de France contenders in favor of the endurance needed to win a three-week stage race. “After many years fighting for the Tour de France and other races I never had the world championship as a clear goal, but this year everything went smoothly already,” Pogačar said afterward. Zac Williams/Pool/SWpix.com/APAnd the 26-year-old has underlined his complete dominance with the way in which he has won all these races.

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Persons: Tadej Pogačar, Pogačar, Eddy Merckx, Stephen Roche, Annemiek van, van Vleuten, hasn’t, Roche, ” Pogačar, “, Zac Williams, France’s Pavel Sivakov –, –, ”, Australia’s Ben O’Connor, Mathieu van der Organizations: CNN, de France, Giro, cycling’s, Triple, Giro d’Italia, Tour de, Tour de France Locations: Switzerland, Australia’s, Netherlands