Spanish all-time great Alberto Contador believes that Jonas Vingegaard will remain Tadej Pogačar‘s biggest stage racing opponent in 2026 despite two consecutive defeats in the Tour de France.
Speaking at the presentation of the latest version of his Aurum bike, el pistolero – as Contador was known – also paid tribute to Pogačar’s ongoing campaign to try and win Paris-Roubaix and to topple Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) in the Queen of the Classics.
Himself the winner of two Tours de France and seven Grand Tours in total, Contador argued that when it came to cycling’s biggest stage race race, Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) remained the rider most likely to topple Pogačar.
The UAE Team Emirates-XRG leader has already stated that the Tour de France will once again be a top goal in 2026, with Vingegaard continuing to be determined to try and close the gap after two consecutive defeats.
However, Contador recognised to MARCA that for now at least, Pogačar was in a league of his own, while refusing to be drawn into the ongoing insistence in some quarters in comparing Pogačar with cycling’s greatest ever racer, Eddy Merckx.
“These days riders only compete in half of what they used to do. We can’t compare data.”
“So let’s just enjoy what Pogačar does. He’s unique. Every race he does is a gift.”
Looking at the future of Spanish cycling and potential targets for 2026, Contador agreed that Enric Mas (Movistar) – the country’s most consistent Grand Tour racer of recent years and a former rider at the Contador Foundation back in his amateur days – could well look at making his debut in the Giro d’Italia.
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