Wiggins backs 'class act' Pogačar to win seven Tour de France titles

Bradley Wiggins believes Tadej Pogačar is a “class act” capable of winning seven Tour de France titles long before his already-incredible career comes to an end.

Tadej Pogačar celebrates after Stage 20 of the Tour de France Source: Getty Images

A controlled performance in the Stage 20 time trial was enough to see Pogačar retain the yellow jersey ahead of the final ride through Paris, with Jonas Vingegaard (Team Jumbo-Visma) his closest challenger in the general classification, albeit 5’20” behind.

This time last year saw the Slovenian claim the maillot jaune after an almighty collapse from Primoz Roglic, but on this occasion, the 22-year-old has had his grip firmly on proceedings since Stage 8.

Such a dominating display from the UAE Team Emirates rider could yet be the second of several more Tour titles, according to Wiggins, who, too, won the event in 2012.

“It’s been a while since we have seen someone as talented as him,” Wiggins told Bernie Eisel for Eurosport.

“He’s won this Tour by over five minutes, (and it is) seven minutes to (Richard) Carapaz.

“They are big time gaps and he could dominate this sport.

“We said it before that (Egan) Bernal could win seven, but this kid really could because he’s backed it up.

“I think it’s harder to win your second Tour than your first.

“He’s come back and he’s defending his title with class, and he’s picked up where he left off last year on La Planche des Belles Filles.

“He is a class act. Brilliant.”

The Tour de France concludes tonight with Stage 21 and you can catch all the action from 11pm (AEST) on SBS and SBS On Demand, with the SKODA Tour Tracker app commencing at 12:05am (AEST).