👑 The dominant reign of Tadej Pogačar in the world of professional cycling has reached a new, glittering pinnacle. As part of the annual end-of-season celebrations for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, the team’s home nation of the United Arab Emirates unveiled a stunning golden statue of the two-time Tour de France champion in Abu Dhabi.
This extraordinary tribute, reportedly a 2.1-meter-tall and 180 kg sculpture, marks an unprecedented moment in professional cycling history: the first time a WorldTour team has immortalized an active rider with such a grand and permanent monument. The statue, located at the Abu Dhabi Cycling Club, celebrates not just Pogačar’s extraordinary achievements, but his role as the talismanic figurehead who has driven the team to three consecutive UCI WorldTour Best Team titles.
🏆 Capturing the Grace of a Champion
The sculpture itself is a poignant capture of Pogačar’s persona. Rather than depicting a moment of raw power—a sprint or a brutal mountain attack—the statue freezes his signature victory celebration: a moment of deep bow delivered with characteristic grace and humility. This bow has become his visual language of triumph, a respectful nod to fans, rivals, and teammates alike, now cast permanently in what is widely reported to be a gold-colored finish, symbolizing his ‘golden era’ dominance.
The unveiling took place during a massive celebration and community event, which saw the team’s athletes, including Pogačar himself, joined by thousands of cycling enthusiasts at the Al Hudayriat Island Circuit. The event underscored the team’s commitment to inspiring active lifestyles and showcased the dramatic growth of cycling culture in the UAE, largely fueled by Pogačar’s success and global visibility.
🌍 A Monument to the Shifting Axis of Cycling
The significance of the statue extends far beyond a simple personal accolade. For the UAE Team Emirates-XRG, and their primary sponsor, the monument serves as a powerful declaration of their status at the very top of world cycling. Pogačar’s 2025 season, which included his World Champion title, another Tour de France victory, and a record-equaling fifth consecutive Tour of Lombardy, provided the perfect context for this historic commemoration.
The presence of a monument to a cycling icon standing proudly in the Gulf region, rather than in cycling’s traditional European heartland, also symbolises the shifting axis of global cycling influence. It positions the UAE as a central power and a dedicated patron of the sport. The statue’s location at the Abu Dhabi Cycling Club means rising talents, such as teammate and top-ranked cyclist Isaac del Toro, will train daily in front of a physical embodiment of the team’s standard of excellence.
In essence, the golden Pogačar is a celebration, a challenge, and a statement. It’s a bold reminder to all rivals that the bar has been set incredibly high, and that the era of the Slovenian champion, immortalized in his adopted home, is far from over.