Tadej Pogačar had to autograph several piles of rainbow jerseys after his World Championships victory in Zurich but only he will wear the unique jersey in the men's peloton for the next 12 months.
After an incredible 2024 season that now includes 23 victories and the Giro d'Italia-Tour de France double, Pogačar has become only the fourth rider to win cycling's Triple Crown, following Belgian Eddy Merckx in 1974, Stephen Roche in 1987 and Annemiek van Vleuten in 2022.
Pogačar is a generational talent but even he was tied and emotional after his long-range attack and solo victory in Zurich. He poured water over his head several times beyond the finish line and then hugged and kissed his partner Urška Žigart.
"I experienced all the emotions today, it's been like a rollercoaster," he admitted.
"It was a crazy, crazy race, then there was the last kilometre and when I saw my teammates and Urška at the finish. I was almost crying afterwards."
