On the eve of the Tour of Lombardy, the Slovenian was asked about the suspicions surrounding his exceptional performances.
Tadej Pogacar, questioned about the suspicions surrounding his overwhelming domination in a sport long plagued by doping, estimated on Friday that current cycling was “victim of his past” and that it would be “stupid to put your health on the line for ten years of your career”.
“There will always be jealousy, suspicion, I can’t do anything about that”declared the Slovenian on the eve of the Tour of Lombardy where he is aiming for his 25th victory of the year to crown one of the most dominant seasons in history.
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“Domination is present everywhere, in business and in sport. It lasts a few years until a new talent arrives.underlined the leader of the UAE team who spoke at length on the issue during a press conference at his hotel between Milan and Bergamo, where the race will start on Saturday.
“Cycling is a victim of its past when riders did everything to be better, even if it meant risking their health and their lives. Not just the winners. Runners whose names we don’t even know are experiencing health problems today or have psychological problems because of what they took 30 years ago.”
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“Cycling is suffering these years. There is no trust and I don’t know what we can do to regain it, he added. We just go shopping and hope people start believing in us. But there will always be a winner and the winner is the one who has the spotlight on him. He is suspected of being a cheater. Maybe in a few generations people will forget the past, will forget (Lance) Armstrong and what they were doing back then.”
“It’s a dangerous enough sport as it is with the accidents, the limits not to be exceeded for the heart. If you put your health on the line for ten years of your career it’s just screwing up your life, it’s stupid. I don’t want to take the risk of getting sick one day.”he insisted.
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In contention on Saturday for a fourth victory in a row at the Tour of Lombardy, a feat only achieved by Fausto Coppi at the end of the 1940s, he also said “flattered” compare him to Eddy Merckx, the greatest of all time.
“It’s nice and flattering but we’re talking about another era about which I know almost nothing. Merckx won everything but I was still far from being born. I will never compare myself to anyone. I’m making my way and just want to be the best at the moment, not look back.”declared the 26-year-old Slovenian.
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