With cycling’s Tour De France 2026 still a few weeks away from ‘Le Grand Depart’, the defending champion (and four-time winner) Tadej Pogačar is already receiving his flowers – but this time courtesy of his newly-inked partnership with watch brand Richard Mille.
The UCI WorldTeam UAE Team Emirates rider is a heavy favourite to make it a hattrick of back-to-back titles in cycling’s most famous (and gruelling race) carrying on a dominance of the sport that has seen the 27-year-old Slovenian become one of the sport’s most decorated competitors ever.
No stranger to cycling champions, superlative watchmaker Richard Mille has a long-standing commitment to the world of elite cycling, having worked with previous two-wheel icons Mathieu van der Poel and Mark Cavendish – both considered ‘Friends of the brand’.
He embodies a new generation of cycling and joins Mathieu van der Poel and Mark Cavendish among the brand’s cycling champions.
Few athletes have dominated their sport as quickly and profoundly as Tadej Pogačar. After emerging to the cycling world with a third place at the 2019 Vuelta a España at just 20 years wearing the colours of UAE Team Emirates, he produced one of the most memorable performances in modern cycling history the following season, becoming the youngest champion since 1904.
Tadej and Richard Mille have been naturally linked since 2021, when the Brand partnered with UAE Team Emirates. As the team entered one of the most successful periods in its history, Tadej emerged as its leading figure. Cycling demands endurance, extreme precision, lightweight engineering and shock resistance – values that are embedded in Richard Mille’s philosophy. Tadej represents the ideal partner because he continually redefines performance in professional cycling.
The Slovenian’s attacking style has contributed to an exceptional list of achievements, including four Tour de France wins, the Giro d’Italia, two world championship titles, and 13 Monument victories.
In 2024, he became only the third male cyclist – and first since 1987 – to achieve the Triple Crown of Cycling, winning the Giro, the Tour, and the World Championships in the same year. In 2025, he became the first male cyclist to win both the Tour de France and the UCI Road World Championship Road Race in successive years. Ultimately, Tadej’s uncompromising desire has made him the UCI road racing world No.1 for a record number of weeks, achievements realised while wearing the RM 67-02 Automatic Extra Flat, a sports watch developed to provide exceptional comfort through its lightness and ergonomics tailored to the demands of elite athletes.
Tadej Pogačar has established himself as one of the defining riders of his generation, showcasing his extraordinary talent and remarkable dominance. His indefatigable drive to continually raise the bar higher embodies a mindset that resonates naturally with Richard Mille.