Tadej Pogacar faces retirement talk despite 2027 plans

Tadej Pogacar’s season is over, but the Slovenian has not indicated that he is stepping away from cycling. He has already returned to training and is preparing for 2027, with the Tour de France, the World Championships and the Vuelta a España identified as his main targets.

The UAE Team Emirates-XRG leader was forced to abandon his remaining objectives after a heavy crash on the Vuelta route. He will miss the World Championships and the Tour of Lombardy, despite a dominant 2026 campaign that brought him a fifth Tour de France title and three more Monument victories.

Pogacar has said he would ideally ride the Giro d’Italia, although he accepts that the Vuelta will eventually have to be removed from his programme. His long-term commitment to UAE Team Emirates-XRG also remains clear, with a contract extension taking him through 2032.

Retirement speculation has nevertheless emerged around the 28-year-old’s long-term motivation. Irish former champion Sean Kelly believes Pogacar could still have three or four seasons at the highest level, but says a decision to stop earlier would not be surprising if the Slovenian no longer had the same mental drive. For now, Pogacar’s stated focus is a return to competition, not an immediate retirement.