Few riders in modern cycling can dominate the calendar quite like Tadej Pogačar, and as Il Lombardia approaches, history is calling. The Slovenian sensation has the chance to equal one of the most remarkable records in the sport, set more than half a century ago by Eddy Merckx.
In 1971, Merckx – known as The Cannibal – completed a stunning season by winning three Monuments and the World Championships, a feat considered almost untouchable in the modern era. Fast forward to 2025, and Pogačar finds himself in a strikingly similar position. Already victorious in the year’s biggest races, he now stands just one step away from rewriting cycling history.
What makes this achievement even more special is Pogačar’s ongoing dominance at Il Lombardia itself. With four consecutive victories, he has already matched the legendary Alfredo Binda and is just one short of Fausto Coppi’s all-time record of five wins. His attacking style and fearless approach have turned Lombardy into his personal hunting ground.
The scale of his latest triumph in 2024 – a solo attack that blew the race apart with a winning margin unseen since Merckx in 1971 – only adds weight to the comparisons. For many, victory this year would confirm that Pogačar is not just the best of his generation, but one of the greatest of all time.
As anticipation builds, fans are left asking the same question: can Pogačar deliver once again and equal the record that even the greatest riders after Merckx failed to touch? One thing is certain – if he does, cycling history will be made on the roads of Lombardy.
