Even the greatest cyclist in history is now bowing down. Tadej Pogacar’s gargantuan number this Sunday in Zurich went straight into the collection of legendary moments from the brilliant Slovenian. It allowed him to put on the world champion jersey for the first time and sign a triple Tour de France, Tour of Italy and Worlds that only two men (Eddy Merckx in 1974 and Stephen Roche in 1987) had achieved in the story.
Now, even the great Eddy Merckx agrees in L’Equipe: “He is above me.“A dubbing that is worth a thousand others by the greatest record in the history of cycling, who has become one of the most demanding observers in the peloton. This observation says everything about the place of Pogacar’s exploits in the legend of his sport.”It’s obvious he’s on top of me now. I already thought it a little deep down when I saw what he had done in the last Tour de France but, this evening, there is no doubt“, confided this Monday the Cannibal in the columns of the sports daily.
Pogacar: “I may have made a stupid attack, but I never gave up until the finish”
Me, I wasn’t attacking 100 kilometers from the finish in a world championship
If, for 40 years, he has been pulled out of the hat of the “new Merckx” every year, this time, it seems that he has finally found his successor. The unimaginable scenario of Pogacar’s triumph this Sunday, the audacity and the nerve of the Slovenian even give a particular impact to the affair which completely amazed Merckx: “Obviously, we cannot compare eras, but here we are dealing with an incredible runnerrecognized the Belgian. I wasn’t attacking 100 kilometers from the finish in a world championship, what he achieved today is unimaginable.“
Praises which respond to those, unanimously, of his contemporary competitors, yet sacred champions too, who could only observe the damage on Sunday. “Ihe is exceptional, stronger than eversaid Mathieu Van der Poel upon arrival. When we look at his season, he deserves this title more than anyone. And it feels like it’s just the beginning.”
“It was suicidal for Pogacar to leave 100 km from the finish”
“He is the strongest of his generation, there is absolutely no doubtconfirmed Merckx in the columns of Le Parisien this time. 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.”
If even the greatest and most demanding of cycling legends admits it, it’s hard not to agree with her. Pogacar is the greatest today. And perhaps even the greatest altogether? There are still a few achievements ahead of Merckx (in particular his 7 victories over Milan-Sanremo or his hat-trick over Paris-Roubaix which Pogacar never won). But Pogacar, let’s not forget, is only 26 years old…
