Wout van Aert on Tadej Pogačar’s Historic Year: “He Dominated Every Race He Entered, and I Truly Believe He Would Have Won the Vuelta a España Too, If He Had Taken Part”
The 2024 cycling season has been nothing short of spectacular, with one rider standing head and shoulders above the rest—Tadej Pogačar. Already cementing his place in the pantheon of modern greats with multiple Tour de France victories, the Slovenian superstar continued to break records and wow the cycling world this year. From his powerful wins in the classics to his all-round dominance in stage races, Pogačar’s season has been nothing short of remarkable.
However, one rider who believes the narrative could have been even more astounding is Wout van Aert, a close competitor and teammate of Pogačar in various races. In a recent interview, Van Aert expressed his admiration for Pogačar’s unprecedented achievements in 2024, while also stating his conviction that had Pogačar raced in the Vuelta a España, he would have been unstoppable there as well.
“He dominated every race he entered,” Van Aert reflected, “and I truly believe he would have won the Vuelta a España too, if he had taken part.”
Tadej Pogačar: A Season of Unprecedented Success
Tadej Pogačar’s 2024 campaign was, by all accounts, the stuff of legend. He kicked off the season with an early win at the UAE Tour, a stage race where he demonstrated his all-round prowess, winning the general classification and two mountain stages. His form was an ominous sign for his rivals as he entered the spring classics in peak condition.
In the one-day classics, Pogačar took his dominance to new heights, winning the Tour of Flanders and Liège-Bastogne-Liège with powerful solo attacks that left the field in his wake. His Tour of Flanders win, in particular, stunned cycling fans. The way he conquered the iconic cobbled climbs and pulled away from some of the strongest riders in the peloton showcased not only his physical strength but also his incredible race intuition and tactical awareness.
With two Monument victories under his belt by the end of the spring, Pogačar shifted his focus to the Tour de France. Coming into the race as the favorite, the Slovenian star didn’t disappoint. In a closely fought battle against reigning champion Jonas Vingegaard, Pogačar showcased his resilience and skill across every terrain. From the brutal Alpine climbs to the punishing time trials, he proved he was once again the best all-round rider in the world. His victory in the 2024 Tour de France marked his third title in just five years, further solidifying his reputation as one of the greatest cyclists of his generation.
After the Tour, Pogačar showed no signs of slowing down. He went on to claim victory in the Clásica San Sebastián, adding yet another prestigious one-day race to his ever-growing list of triumphs. His dominance across multiple disciplines—stage races, Monuments, and one-day races—was unlike anything the sport had seen in recent memory. By the time the Vuelta a España rolled around in late summer, the cycling world was already buzzing about what Pogačar might accomplish next.
Wout van Aert’s Bold Statement: What Could Have Been
Wout van Aert, a versatile and respected rider in his own right, has had the unique vantage point of racing alongside and against Pogačar. Having competed in many of the same races and shared the battlefield with the Slovenian in key moments, Van Aert understands better than most what makes Pogačar so special.
In his interview, Van Aert expressed a sentiment that has likely crossed the minds of many fans and pundits: if Pogačar had decided to race in the Vuelta a España, he could very well have added another Grand Tour title to his resume.
“It’s not an exaggeration to say that Tadej had the form and the ability to win every race he entered this year,” Van Aert said. “He’s shown that he can handle the rigors of three-week races, and with the kind of form he was in after the Tour de France, I have no doubt that he could have gone to Spain and won the Vuelta too. He just has that kind of talent—it’s almost unreal.”
Van Aert went on to emphasize how rare it is for a rider to maintain such a high level of performance across such a wide variety of races. “You see riders who are great in the classics, and you see riders who dominate in the Grand Tours, but very rarely do you see someone like Pogačar, who excels at both. It’s not just his physical ability—though, of course, that’s a huge part of it—but it’s also his mental strength. He knows how to win, and he doesn’t back down from a challenge.”
Why Pogačar Skipped the Vuelta a España
While many fans would have loved to see Pogačar compete in the Vuelta, the Slovenian opted to skip the race, choosing instead to focus on recovery and preparing for the later part of the season, including the UCI Road World Championships and the Il Lombardia.
Pogačar’s decision to rest was understandable, given the grueling demands of the season and his impressive list of victories. The 2024 Vuelta a España was a particularly tough edition, featuring multiple brutal mountain stages and a highly competitive field. Riders like Primož Roglič and Remco Evenepoel were battling it out for the red jersey, but many believe that if Pogačar had lined up at the start in Barcelona, he would have been the overwhelming favorite.
“It’s easy to forget that Pogačar is still young,” Van Aert said. “He’s only 25, but he’s already achieved so much. He knows how to manage his season, and skipping the Vuelta was probably a smart decision for his long-term career. But still, there’s a part of me that wonders what would have happened if he had decided to race. I think we all know the answer—he would have been right up there, fighting for the win.”
The Future: Pogačar’s Path Forward
Looking ahead to 2025, there’s no doubt that Pogačar will continue to be a dominant force in the peloton. His ability to adapt to different races and terrains makes him a perennial contender for almost any race he enters. Fans are already speculating about whether he will target all three Grand Tours in a single season, a feat that few riders in history have dared to attempt.
For Van Aert, there’s no question that Pogačar has the ability to continue breaking records and setting new standards in professional cycling. “I’ve raced against some of the best in the world, but what Tadej is doing is on another level,” he said. “The way he reads a race, the way he attacks when no one expects it—it’s a rare gift. I’m excited to see what he’ll do next, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he targets the Giro, the Tour, and the Vuelta all in one year. If anyone can pull it off, it’s him.”
A Season to Remember, with Even More to Come
Tadej Pogačar’s 2024 season will go down in history as one of the most remarkable campaigns in modern cycling. From his victories in the Monuments to his third Tour de France title, Pogačar has proven time and again that he is a generational talent.
As Wout van Aert so eloquently put it, Pogačar’s dominance could have extended even further had he chosen to compete in the Vuelta a España. While we’ll never know for certain how that race would have unfolded, it’s hard to argue with Van Aert’s assertion that Pogačar had the form and ability to win it all.
With the 2025 season on the horizon, cycling fans can only dream of what Tadej Pogačar will achieve next. Whether it’s another Tour de France victory, a tilt at the Giro or Vuelta, or even more Monument victories, one thing is for certain: Pogačar’s reign at the top of the sport is far from over, and the best may be yet to come.
