Forget about new smart devices and the latest series on streaming platforms, this year's ultimate "must-read" is completely analog. The long-awaited biography Tadej Pogačar: Unstoppable has been released by Mladinska knjiga.
If you thought you knew everything about the golden boy of Slovenian sports, you're in for a surprise. From unicycle rampages to historical drama, this book reveals the sweat and genius behind his smile.
The phenomenon that made cycling outrageously attractive
Let's face it: years ago, road cycling was just that slightly tedious sport for many of us that was endlessly replayed on TV on summer afternoons while we waited on the couch for the afternoon heat to subside. Then he hit the scene. Tadej Pogačar. With those unruly strands of hair that playfully stick out from under his helmet (aerodynamics up or down), and a relaxed, almost boyish smile with which he literally destroys all the world's competition on the toughest mountain climbs.
Today, Tadej is not just a top athlete; he has become a global phenomenon and the ultimate pop culture icon. At his tender – and almost unimaginable – years, he has conquered practically everything there is to conquer in this brutal sport. And not with boring, calculating pedaling, but with stunning audacity bordering on cinematic audacity, and a unique style that captivates even those who, until yesterday, could not separate the inner tube from the gears. Biography Tadej Pogačar: unstoppable offers an exclusive VIP ticket behind the scenes of his mind and life. The work is written by renowned British author Andy McGrath.
Movie thriller on La Planche des Belles Filles
If Hollywood producers were writing this script, they would probably dismiss it as “creatively overdone and completely unrealistic.” Andy McGrath begins his literary treat with a powerful and visionary twist right at the most emotional – and, frankly, most dramatic – point in Pogačar’s career. Do you still remember September 2020? The world was in the midst of a pandemic, and we stared motionless at that fateful, heartbreaking chronometer on the mountain The Board of Beautiful Girls.
It was a one-on-one duel, a biblical clash of epic proportions, between Tadej Pogačar and his compatriot Primož Roglič. McGrath describes the race of the century with such intensity that you will probably burn a few calories just from the rapid heartbeat and sweaty palms. The author elegantly and without mincing words takes us through that first Tour de France victory, the epic that completely paralyzed us as a nation for a few hours and caused us to lose our collective voice.
From a unicycle in peaceful Komenda to the undisputed king of the asphalt
But don't be fooled; the book is not just a dry collection of triumphant moments and shiny trophies that accumulate on the shelves. It is a deep, analytical and extremely honest dive into the psychology of the absolute winner. McGrath takes us back to the peaceful Komenda, where little Tadej, together with his parents and brother, honed his incredible patience, perseverance and hard work. Of course, we cannot and must not ignore the epic fact that this cycling virtuoso used to transport himself on his home roads as a child on – get ready – a unicycle! While we mere mortals still occasionally stumble on our own two feet, Pogi, like a true acrobat, calmly maintained his balance on one wheel.
The author conducted more than fifty in-depth interviews with his close friends, past and present coaches and teammates for this comprehensive biography. The result? A brilliant and slightly frightening realization that behind those seemingly effortless pedal strokes, when it seems like he could have another good Italian espresso in peace, lies steely determination, the infamous Slovenian stubbornness in its purest form, and an almost supernatural focus. Beneath that boyish and modest exterior lies a fiery perfectionist who has transformed his body into a ruthless winning machine.
Who is Andy McGrath and why do we believe every word he says?
Now many of you are probably wondering: “Who the hell is this Brit who would write a book about Slovenia’s greatest sporting pride?” Don’t panic, Andy McGrath is not some random enthusiast with too much free time who read a few articles about cycling on the internet and decided to become a writer. He is an award-winning sports journalist and a true institution in the world of cycling journalism, who has been covering this brutally demanding sport professionally and up close since 2009.
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His professional CV reads like the ultimate wish list of any aspiring journalist: he was the editor of the iconic and prestigious Rouleur magazine, the chief correspondent of Cycling Weekly, and his insightful words regularly graced the pages of such global media giants as the Telegraph, the Guardian and the esteemed Financial Times. His literary mastery did not go unnoticed, as he was crowned with the William Hill Sports Book of the Year award (which is practically the equivalent of an Oscar in the world of sports literature) for his biography of British ace Tom Simpson, and he also wrote a high-profile biography of Belgian star Frank Vanderbroucke.
McGrath is an authority with a capital 'A'. His rich insight comes not just from dry statistics, but from the fact that he met our champion in person many times during his illustrious career. This gives the book that precious authentic, insider touch that draws the reader in and doesn't let go until the last page. Regardless of whether you are a die-hard cycling fanatic with a special bike parked in the garage at home, or simply someone who can appreciate a brilliant story of incredible success and human excellence - this book will be an absolutely indispensable addition in the coming months on your coffee table.
