He can’t believe it. Glued in front of his television, Eddy Merckx watched, amazed, the triumph of Tadej Pogacar at the World Cycling Championships in Zurich. The first rider to have won the “triple crown”, in 1974, namely the triple Tour de France-Tour of Italy-World Championships, the Belgian legend continues to be amazed by the insolent talent of the Slovenian, the third man to achieve this feat also 37 years after the Irishman Stephen Roche.
“What he did, it’s truly incredible, I can’t find the words. This guy is unrivaled,” confides Eddy Merckx, barely recovered from his emotions. Comparisons between the two men are regular, as they dominated their generation. But attacking 100 km from the finish, and embarking on a solo escape of 51 miles, the “Cannibal” would not have dared. “You must be crazy,” he smiles. Besides, when he attacked, I started to fear for him, I told myself that he had left too soon. It’s normally impossible to win at 100 km but he did it. »
“It’s really the biggest”
With this success, the 26th of the season for Tadej Pogacar, the Slovenian proves once again that he is the boss of the world peloton. Demonstrated on the Giro and the Grande Boucle, it currently has no competition. “He is the strongest of his generation, there is absolutely no doubt,” confirms Eddy Merckx. You know, at my age (79 ans)it takes a lot to bluff me. There he succeeded. I thought he could be world champion, I never imagined it would be like this. He really is the greatest, congratulations to him. »
Last July, the Belgian had already confided to us his admiration for his “heir”. While he had often been told about “new Merckx”, the five-time winner of the Tour de France had dubbed the Slovenian. “This one is different,” he assured. Him, if you want me to predict a career that would resemble mine, I say yes. He started winning at a very young age and I feel a huge desire in him to win everything. There is rage as soon as he is on a bike. I like it. » These World Championships prove him right again.
