Teodor Pogačar believes he can get even better in 2025, saying, “There’s still some room for improvement.”

Honestly, Tadej Pogačar can’t get any better. I mean, really, how could he be a better cyclist? Why attack at the beginning of a race instead of with 100 or 80 km to go? Get 30 minutes extra time on Grand Tours and 15 minutes extra time on Monuments.

The Slovene is almost done with cycling. He already has three Tours de France, one Giro d’Italia, and seven Monuments in the back pockets of his rainbow jersey. The 26-year-old still thinks he can get better, which is a statement that must have the whole race swearing.

“I mean, I can definitely get better, and I’m still learning,” the UAE Team Emirates rider said at the theme park Terra Mitica in Benidorm, Spain, where his team held its annual media day. Unfortunately, Pogíar did not ride any of the rollercoasters.

“I don’t think of myself as an old guy or an older rider yet; I’m still pretty young, so maybe I can grow.” It will be interesting to see if I can get even better in the winter. For now, everything looks good. But in the first races, I’ll have to prove myself. Something bad could happen, but it could still be OK.

Athletes are always thinking about the future, while everyone else is celebrating their wins and arguing with their friends about which win or rider was better. They never look back; they’re always looking forward.

“People, we humans, we are always getting better, and I think that’s the same in sports,” the world winner said. “We try to get better until the end of our careers. When you can’t get any better, it’s time to end your career.”

“You can always make it better, make it 100% good. That goes for everything, on and off the bike, training, nutrition, sleep. That’s what I try to do; every year I want to take one more step. It means doing the same thing every day. There are no other things that could distract you from what you want to do. Improving that is the best thing to do.

He proudly says that his 2024 was “exceptional,” “perfect,” and a “great year.” It’s great to hear that he had a great time. Like him, you should hope so. He finally had 25 wins in 57 race days.

What’s different about 2025? There you have it: the cobbles are back. In 2023, he won the Tour of Flanders, but he couldn’t protect his title because he was racing in the Giro d’Italia that same month. But he’ll be there next spring, rolling over the pavé and riding past the Belgians with their frites, beer, and big lion flags.

“This year was a little different, but I still want to race on the cobblestones a few more times in my career.” He also confirmed that he would race at E3 Harelbeke and Gent-Wevelgem. “It doesn’t matter if I have the world championship stripes or not; I just like to be there,” he said.

He might also ride the Giro again, but that depends on the Vuelta a España’s course. The Spanish Grand Tour releases its course on December 19. “The Tour-Vuelta or the Giro-Vuelta would be nice,” he said. “I did the Giro-Tour.”

He still doesn’t know, so rumors will keep going, but he will definitely do two three-week races, either the Giro or the Vuelta, in addition to the Tour. This is the most important and largest race: the Tour. “This year we learned that two Grand Tours are great if you’re in good shape,” he said.

He signed a new deal not long ago that is said to be worth €8m a year, which is about €22,000 a day. He will be stuck at UAE until the end of the 2030 season. By then, he will have likely won every WorldTour race there is to win and may even have surpassed Eddy Merckx as the best rider of all time.

He said, “This is how you feel when you sign a longer contract.” “You only think about cycling and getting better. You don’t think about when you have to sign a new contract.” It’s clear that this is a benefit, he said.

“Also, I really feel at home on this team.” I get along well with everyone here and have made some great friends. It’s been great for me to be here for a long time.

He still wants to make his much-talked-about Paris-Roubaix start, but it probably won’t happen for a few years. He also wants to race in Milan-Sanremo, which he jokes will send him to his grave. That being said, he said, “It’s almost the most unpredictable race on the calendar, and it’s one of the races I want to get better at over and over again.” “Slowly but surely I’m getting closer to first place.”

What about riding all three Grand Tours in one year? This became possible after he won both the Giro and the Tour in the summer. He said, “I would love to try it, but it’s not a priority.” This was a hint that he might try it someday in the future.

People ask Pogačar for selfies, autographs, and bidons everywhere he goes these days. So popular is he that he’s becoming bigger than the sport itself; in fact, he may be even bigger than the sport itself. But for now, he’s not the GOAT. But Merckx said he was getting close. He said of the Belgian’s words, “It’s flattering.” “I’m proud that he says that.”

Keep getting better, because he’s sure you will, and there won’t even be an argument.