Paul Rouget, Media365: published on Tuesday October 1, 2024 at 12:14 p.m.
Winner of his first world champion title on Sunday in Zurich, Tadej Pogacar once again impressed the competition after this “incredible” performance.
From dream to reality. “It’s something that I miss,” Tadej Pogacar admitted before this road race at the Zurich Worlds that he dreamed of winning. The Slovenian, already winner of his third Tour de France after triumphing in the Giro for his first participation, won the rainbow jersey in style in Switzerland on Sunday, escaping alone 100 km from the finish to win in the end ahead of Australian Ben O’Connor and Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel. And he didn’t just impress Eddy Merckx, a “Cannibal” triple world champion in the 60s and 70s who had no trouble recognizing that “Pogi” had overtaken him.
“We know he is extraordinary”
His competitors are also amazed. Like Remco Evenepoel, another big favorite who had to settle for 5th place. “Tadej showed that he was the best in the world at the moment, recognized the Belgian, crowned world time trial champion again a week earlier. It’s incredible. We know he is extraordinary and he showed it again today.” His Australian runner-up couldn’t fight either. “I was in his wheel when he left,” O’Connor responded. “I tried to follow him for a while and I told myself it was no use. He’s the best in the world, and That’s how it is in modern cycling.”
For the Irishman Ben Healy, 7th overall, Pogacar “left and I don’t think anyone expected it. When the whole Belgian team was chasing him, we thought it was maybe a little too much, even for Tadej, but he proved us wrong again.” And it’s even “a steamroller” for his teammate at UAE Team Emirates Pavel Sivakov, a Frenchman expected by the Slovenian and then inevitably left behind. Like everyone else…
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