Tadej Pogačar’s big goal for 2026 is hardly a surprise – it is the Tour de France. The race squats over the rest of professional cycling like a giant toad, to ape the Spectator’s Tim Shipman’s description of former British prime minister Boris Johnson. It’s the only race that matters for many fans, for sponsors, for outsiders, and so it is understandable that the world champion’s focus is on a fifth yellow jersey. Few would bet against him equalling the record for most wins, after his dominant victories in 2024 and 2025.
The route for the 113th edition of the Tour will be announced on Thursday, and whatever is included in the 3,000km, whatever moves to ‘Tadej-proof’ the course have been included, it is still likely to suit the Slovenian. There are very few race routes that have caused the 27-year-old any cause for concern in the last two seasons, and not just at the Tour too, but in most other settings, as proved by his dominance in April, September and October this year.
