Just like a year ago, Tadej and his fiancée Urška Žigart celebrated together the titles of Slovenian male and female cyclist of the year. Tadej received the award, which is traditionally awarded by the Slovenia Cycling Federation at the end of each season at the Evening of Stars in the Ljubljana Festival Hall, for the sixth time in a row (he shared the first one with Primož Roglič in 2020), and Urška received it for the second time in a row.
They did not attend the event this time, as they had already rolled up their sleeves in Monaco and completed their first training sessions in preparation for the 2026 season. Tadej’s award was accepted by his parents Marjeta and Mirko Pogačar, while Urška’s was accepted by her father Janko Žigart. »The Tadej Pogačar Foundation recently awarded 35 scholarships to students who are fighting cancer or have already overcome it. We are prouder of this than of all of Tadej’s victories,« said Mirko Pogačar.
This year, Urška excelled with, among other things, 2nd place in the Tour of Romandie, 5th place in the Tour of Switzerland and 9th place in the Tour of Italy and 11th place in the road race of the European Championships in France, the best Slovenian ranking in women’s road races at the European Championships so far.
For Tadej, who celebrated 20 victories this year, including his fourth Tour de France, second world championship title, first European championship title and three of the five monuments, the peak of his period of receiving prestigious awards is approaching.
This year, in addition to the Rog Golden Wheel, which Urška also recived, and the title of Road Cyclist of the Year of the Slovenia Cycling Federation, for the first time he also received the Forbes Slovenia 30 under 30 award. This is a selection that reveals breakthrough young individuals under the age of 30 in Slovenia – visionaries, innovators and creators who, with their work, push boundaries in the fields of entrepreneurship, science and technology, (pop) culture, art and sports.
Tadej will probably also receive the most prestigious seasonal awards. For the Slovenian Athlete of the Year, which will be awarded on December 9 in Ljubljana, and before that, on December 5 in Paris, they will reveal who the World Cyclist of the Year is. Tadej has already received both awards, he was the Slovenian Athlete of the Year in 2021, 2023 and 2024, and the Golden Bicycle (Velo d’Or) was awarded to him in 2021 and last year.