After already receiving the Rog Golden Wheel and the title of Slovenian Cyclist of the Year for his achievements in the 2025 season, Tadej was, as expected, also proclaimed World Cyclist of the Year. At the ceremony in Paris he didn’t receive only the Velo d’Or, but also the Eddy Merckx Trophy as the best rider in the classic races.
»It’s a great honor and joy to receive this award again. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel well enough to travel and celebrate this moment with everyone present. I’m disappointed I had to miss it, but I want to thank everyone for their support. See you soon,« said Tadej in a remote address to those gathered at the Pavillon Gabriel.
On his behalf, the Eddy Merckx Trophy, which Tadej received after victories in three Monuments (Tour of Flanders, Liège–Bastogne–Liège and Il Lombardia) and a podium finish in all five (2nd at Paris–Roubaix, 3rd at Milan–Sanremo), was collected by Andrej Hauptman.
»When journalists ask me why Tadej is so good in Grand Tours and in the classics, I can only answer that he has the body for Grand Tours, but mentally he is more aggressive, more of a one‑day racer. I don’t know how he manages to win both at Grand Tours and in one‑day races, but that’s why he is one of the best cyclists in the world,« said the sports director of UAE Team Emirates – XRG, adding that Tadej’s 2nd place in his first appearance at the Paris–Roubaix race was no surprise.
»I expected he would do well. When he was a junior in Slovenia, I was his coach. He asked me to call the national team coach because he wanted to compete in the Paris–Roubaix race. Even though at that time he weighed 50 kilograms together with the bike, he started and finished in 13th place. It will be very hard for Tadej to win in Sanremo and Roubaix, but he likes challenges, so he will keep trying. We are convinced that he can succeed,« Hauptman added.
»Tadej is very disappointed because he couldn’t come. This morning we received this bad news. However, if I know Tadej well, he will have a new goal for next season: to win again and come back to receive another Velo d’Or,« said Tadej’s agent Alex Carera, who accepted the Velo d’Or on his behalf.
He also pointed out that Tadej is not a big star only in his native Slovenia, but all over the world. »Tadej is lucky to live in Monaco, where people have great respect for privacy. Everywhere else, especially across Europe, it’s already hard for him to go out on the bike. Many people want to take a photo with him or ask for an autograph. This is the other side of the medal: if you win a lot and you’re unique, you have to accept this part too. Tadej likes this as well; he always smiles for photos with the fans and understands that for children and for supporters it is very important, if they can spend a few seconds with him,« Carera added.
Tadej earned his third Vélo d’Or, which he had already won in 2021 and 2024, with as many as 20 victories this season. In addition to the three Monuments, he also claimed his fourth Tour de France, became world champion for the second year in a row, and for the first time became European champion.
With three Vélo d’Or trophies, Tadej has drawn level with Chris Froome, who was the best in 2013, 2015 and 2017. Ahead of him in the awards, which have been presented since 1992 by the French magazine Velo Magazine, is only four-time winner Alberto Contador (2007, 2008, 2009 and 2014). Since 2022, awards have also been given to the best female cyclists; this time the Eddy Merckx trophy went to Lorena Wiebes, and the Vélo d’Or to Pauline Ferrand-Prévot.