Peak Pogacar can last until 2027, according to Pedro Delgado

Speaking to Marca at the presentation of Movistar’s fifth season of their documentary series ‘El Dia Menos Pensado,’ Pedro Delgado was asked if he believes that Pogačar is currently at his peak level after a 2025 season which saw the Slovenian win 20 races, including the Tour de France, World Championships and three monuments.

“I think he reached it last year,” said Delgado to Marca. “With my experience, he can maintain that peak for three years without a problem.”

Delgado, a three-time Grand Tour winner in his own right, suggested that more of the same can be expected from Pogačar over the next two years, and his biggest eventual challenge could be more mental than physical. 

“This year [2026] he's going to continue being unstoppable, and in 2027 too. Then we'll have to see about mental fatigue,” said Delgado. “In the last Tour, he looked different, not as natural as usual. Physically, he has two more years at that level: 2026 and 2027. We'll see about 2028.”

In the immediate aftermath of his dominant fourth Tour triumph, Pogačar gave the impression that he was more mentally fatigued from the race than usual, and speculation emerged about a potential retirement after the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. 

Pogačar has since quashed these rumours, stating to La Gazzetta dello Sport in November that, “I never considered retiring in 2028. I signed the contract [with UAE Team Emirates-XRG] until 2030, but I can go beyond that.”

Whilst Delgado was confident in his comments about Pogačar remaining at his current peak level of dominance until at least the end of the 2027 season, the Spaniard explained his reasoning why he isn't as confident for 2028, and that it has less to do with the world champion himself but those around him.

“The problem is that when you’re at your peak, you think you can keep improving. I don’t think so,” said Delgado. “Sometimes it's not you who falls, but others who rise. At the current performance level, there are riders who progress step by step. That could happen with Juan Ayuso or others. Pogačar's slight dip is what allows others to catch up. That's why I said until 2027.”

Delgado was also asked who he thinks will be the next rider to topple Pogačar at the Tour, and he pointed to the man who has done so in the past, whilst also looking to a rider who enjoyed a standout debut over three weeks in France last Summer.

"After Pogačar… I don't know. I'd say Vingegaard," said Delgado. "I always say that Pogačar is two steps above the top riders. Vingegaard is one step below him, but one step above others like Evenepoel. This year, I'd like to see Lipowitz's progress, see if he takes another step forward."