Even without racing (his last appearance on the road dates back to the fifth stage of the Tour of Romandy on May 3rd), Tadej Pogacar continues to rack up awards and honors. In recent days, the twenty-seven-year-old from Klanec, who has just returned to his home in Monaco after spending the last few weeks at altitude in Sierra Nevada, has been included by the prestigious magazine Time in the list of the 100 personalities linked to the world of sport most influential in 2026, a list in which the Slovenian's name has been placed within the "Icons" category.

Alongside generational talents such as LeBron James, Jannik Sinner, Lionel Messi, Mondo Duplantis, Mikaela Shiffrin, Lando Norris and Eileen Gu capable of marking an era in their respective disciplines, the profile of the four-time Tour de France winner and two-time World Champion also appears, who, with his presence, is the only representative of cycling in the renowned ranking.

"Tadej Pogacar can win anywhere on two wheels" reads the brief comment provided in the section dedicated to the UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider by Sean Gregory. "Grand Tours, week-long stage races, one-day classics, World Road and Time Trial Championships. He is capable of winning both on pavé and on gravel and is a formidable climber" continues the praise before focusing on the relationship of the three-time Tour of Flanders winner with the suffering experienced in the saddle.

"Pogacar seems to take pride in the hardship inherent in his sport. "Suffering and cycling go hand in hand," he stated in 2024 to the website of the Union Cycliste Internationale, the body that governs this sport. "Anyone who rides a bike, even just for fun, knows what it means to suffer on a climb or struggle against the cold and rain. This is what unites the cycling community and makes this sport so special".

By deliberately choosing to emphasize this statement that highlights the Slovenian champion's closeness to the cycling community, Time has officially bestowed upon Pogacar (already a career winner of three Velo d'Or awards, two Eddy Merckx Trophies and two International Flandrien of the Year awards) a recognition that, if ever there was need, projects him even further into legend not only in cycling but, more generally, in sport tout court.