Pogačar’s Vuelta hopes spark debate over his seemingly superhuman form

Tadej Pogačar, the 27-year-old reigning Tour de France champion, is the clear favourite for the upcoming Vuelta a España, a race that starts on August 22 in Monaco and finishes in Granada. His career tally—three consecutive Tours, a Giro, two world titles and eight Monument wins—has prompted some observers to wonder if his dominance is too extraordinary to be natural. Former professional David Millar, speaking on a cycling podcast, called Pogačar a “genetic freak” whose success is enabled by today’s rigorous anti-doping regime and cutting-edge support systems.

Veteran journalist David Walsh, known for exposing Lance Armstrong, challenged skeptics to produce any solid proof of wrongdoing, noting that modern riders can achieve high performance through nutrition, altitude training and lighter equipment. The discussion also highlighted Pogačar’s record-breaking Alpe d'Huez ascent, which beat Marco Pantani’s 1995 time, though comparisons are complicated by differences in bike technology and race conditions.

Despite lingering doubts rooted in cycling’s troubled past, both Millar and Walsh argue that the sport’s current climate no longer requires doping to win Grand Tours. The Vuelta is expected to be fast-paced, with the peloton aiming for an average speed exceeding 43 km/h, further testing Pogačar’s supremacy.