'Let's go one by one' – Tadej Pogačar wants to fill the gaps in his palmarès, but which races are left to conquer?

Tadej Pogačar recently marked a significant milestone by securing his 117th career victory and 20th overall stage race title with his win at the Tour de Romandie. This success adds another prestigious race to his already remarkable palmarès and raises questions about which major events remain for the Slovenian superstar to conquer. His decision to compete in Romandie, a race he had never previously entered and which faces financial uncertainty for the future, appears to be a strategic move to diversify his achievements rather than a staple in his annual calendar. Pogačar’s approach to racing this season reflects a deliberate effort to broaden his list of victories beyond repeating familiar wins. After clinching Milan-San Remo earlier in the year and narrowly missing out at Paris-Roubaix, he is pursuing a rare feat of winning all five Monuments. Similarly, in stage racing, he is targeting a variety of week-long events rather than focusing solely on the Grand Tours. His calendar adjustments, including debuting at the Tour de Suisse and Romandie, underline his intent to tick off as many prestigious titles as possible, even if it means unconventional scheduling and travel. Among the week-long stage races, Pogačar has already won Tirreno-Adriatico, Paris-Nice, Volta a Catalunya, and the Dauphiné, leaving only the Tour de Suisse and Itzulia Basque Country to complete what is often regarded as cycling’s ‘big seven’ one-week races. With the Tour de Suisse reduced to five stages this year, it presents a less demanding lead-up to the Tour de France and a prime opportunity for Pogačar to add another title. However, the Basque race remains elusive, partly because its timing conflicts with his increasing focus on cobbled Classics such as the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, which have become central to his ambitions. The most conspicuous gap in Pogačar’s palmarès is the Vuelta a España, the final Grand Tour he has yet to win. Despite his dominance in the Tour de France and a Giro d’Italia victory in 2024, the Vuelta has not featured prominently in his plans since his third-place finish in 2019. While he has expressed interest in targeting the race, current scheduling priorities, including the World Championships and Canadian one-day races, take precedence. It is possible that a future edition, such as in 2027 when the Vuelta is held earlier in the calendar, could align better with his racing programme. Pogačar’s methodical pursuit of cycling’s most prestigious races demonstrates his ambition to build a comprehensive legacy rather than merely accumulating repeat victories. His willingness to adapt his schedule and take on new challenges highlights a strategic mindset aimed at conquering as many different titles as possible. As his career progresses, fans and rivals alike will watch closely to see if he can complete the rare feat of winning all five Monuments, the full set of week-long stage races,