Teams & Riders Pogačar as GOAT: already, never, or when?

[Blanco]

The boy is good, complete racer. Good on every terrain and in every type of race. He's probably the best rider since Bernard Hinault, and if he continues this way he will maybe reach his heights.
Merckx.., no way.

 

[velaso montador]

There's at least 3 on here that either calls him it or keeps posting quotes from current or former riders about the topic (4 if you count RhD, although she didn't specify which of the UAE riders she meant).

Personally I dont find him the goat yet also not entertained in that in itself me personally, but clearly its alot of ppl who already does and talks about it in the media frequently, far more prolific cycling figures than us.

My point and my point only is, Pogacar is put on the pedestal already no matter how much anyone here argue over it, hes put there by his peers, not by me ,not us thats rather irrelevant in the bigger picture.

I agree tho, those saying he is the goat already its controversial cause well it is hes not there yet in terms of palmares alone and if you mean he is you have to draw the card of competition like ive seen many profiles in cycling do well then its a argument i get it but yeah im not part of that it can be debated forever these things my case and my case only, is he is on that pedestal alongside him (not saying he is GREATER than Merckx, cause honestly I personally dont think that either yet but fine if anyone do im not that into that.

Goat or not goat people doesnt matter so much, to me atleast, im one of those who also find that description rather pointless to a certain degree over the upper echelons of the greats no matter the sport it will always be hard since different eras etc but Froome, Contador, Gilbert, Boonen etc etc all the greats of this century noone was ever put on that pedestal even tho their all legends of the sports too, well pogacar has been put there already and if you argue that thats fine but he has im sorry - and not by me, not by you but by his peers already it is what it is. Just enjoy it.

 

[scribers]

Some time ago someone posted a forum search of goat and it was literally one person.

 

[AmRacer]

Somehow the perspective makes Pogačar look like what @Logic-is-your-friend thinks Remco looks like.

Fat?

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Some time ago someone posted a forum search of goat and it was literally one person.

Well that was me, so I claim to have some knowledge on the subject

Anyway both that forum search and the O'Sullivan comparison were mostly meant to be a bit of fun.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Somehow the perspective makes Pogačar look like what @Logic-is-your-friend thinks Remco looks like.

Yeah, the other four look more like his children.

 

[wheresmybrakes]

Well then, is this question finally answered? lol

 

[AmRacer]

When was last time the World champ won Lombardia?

 

[Peyroteo94]

When was last time the World champ won Lombardia?

Maybe Bettini

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Maybe Bettini

Yup, 2006.

 

[mlescanojr]

Just a matter of when.

2025: Giro-Tour-Worlds, LBL, Lombardia again
2026: Giro-Tour-Vuelta, LBL, Lombardia
2027: Tour-Vuelta, LBL, Lombardia

11 GTs, 2x Worlds, 13 Monuments

 

[Peyroteo94]

Just a matter of when.

2025: Giro-Tour-Worlds, LBL, Lombardia again
2026: Giro-Tour-Vuelta, LBL, Lombardia
2027: Tour-Vuelta, LBL, Lombardia

11 GTs, 2x Worlds, 13 Monuments

He can win 4 consecutive WC. 2025 and 2027 are sure bets if he really targets them. 2026 Montreal is a good route for him too.

 

[Salvarani]

Just a matter of when.

2025: Giro-Tour-Worlds, LBL, Lombardia again
2026: Giro-Tour-Vuelta, LBL, Lombardia
2027: Tour-Vuelta, LBL, Lombardia

11 GTs, 2x Worlds, 13 Monuments

He wont do three GTs in the same season, but anything else is possible. Given he can be at this level for the next few years and nothing happens to him.

 

[snipeheem]

Already

 

[Extinction]

What he did today was ridiculous. Not even Merckx went from 100 km out.

 

[AmRacer]

What he did today was ridiculous. Not even Merckx went from 100 km out.

He got two teammates helping him for 50 km

 

[Extinction]

He got two teammates helping him for 50 km

True, but I said "went" from 100 km out, not that there was nobody up the road.

 

[Froome]

Already

Merckx

20 monuments, including 2 Paris roubaix
3 world championships
11 Grand tours

Pogacar

4 Grand Tours
6 monuments
1 World champion


Obviously Merckx is the GOAT, just look at the palmares, and obviously he will continue to be, because Pogacar would need to do 4/5 seasons like this season.

Just enjoy what Pogacar accomplished this year, and forget about that history of GOAT. Why do you all need to constantly to put Pogacar in a conversation who doesn't make any sense? The difference of palmares is still high.

 

[James M]

Merckx

20 monuments, including 2 Paris roubaix
3 world championships
11 Grand tours

Pogacar

4 Grand Tours
6 monuments
1 World champion


Obviously Merckx is the GOAT, just look at the palmares, and obviously he will continue to be, because Pogacar would need to do 4/5 seasons like this season.

Just enjoy what Pogacar accomplished this year, and forget about that history of GOAT. Why do you all need to constantly to put Pogacar in a conversation who doesn't make any sense? The difference of palmares is still high.

"He takes the piss!" - Geraint Thomas & Luke Rowe in awe of 'better than Merckx' Tadej Pogacar

Geraint Thomas has had a few battles against Tadej Pogacar over the years, finishing on the final podium of both the 2022 Tour de France and the 2024 Giro d'Italia alongside the Slovenian. As such, th...

cyclinguptodate.com

Not we all - the cycling world. He is the goat for the same reason Jordan is the Goat of NBA and not Bill Russell its very easy.

In your black and white way to say it Roglic is twice the rider Vingegaard is and more and etc etc it doesnt work like that only its more narratives to account for than pure merrits (especially when its vs another era where cyclnig was terrible)

 

[Blanco]

With this season Pogacar enetered into the cycling royal highnesses which contains only four names now:
Fausto Coppi
Eddy Merckx
Bernard Hinault
Tadej Pogacar

 

[AmRacer]

Merckx

20 monuments, including 2 Paris roubaix
3 world championships
11 Grand tours

Pogacar

4 Grand Tours
6 monuments
1 World champion


Obviously Merckx is the GOAT, just look at the palmares, and obviously he will continue to be, because Pogacar would need to do 4/5 seasons like this season.

Just enjoy what Pogacar accomplished this year, and forget about that history of GOAT. Why do you all need to constantly to put Pogacar in a conversation who doesn't make any sense? The difference of palmares is still high.

There are lots of explanations in this forum why Tadej Merckx is the GOAT.

 

[Lorzenz08]

Very different time. At the time of Merckx no one was really a GT specialist vs One day race specialist etc.
Pretty much everyone was doing everything.

So if we take account context, I would say Pogacar is in my opinion already on Merckx accomplishment level, maybe just 1-2 years away.

 

[hayneplane]

"He takes the piss!" - Geraint Thomas & Luke Rowe in awe of 'better than Merckx' Tadej Pogacar

Geraint Thomas has had a few battles against Tadej Pogacar over the years, finishing on the final podium of both the 2022 Tour de France and the 2024 Giro d'Italia alongside the Slovenian. As such, th...

cyclinguptodate.com

Not we all - the cycling world. He is the goat for the same reason Jordan is the Goat of NBA and not Bill Russell its very easy.

In your black and white way to say it Roglic is twice the rider Vingegaard is and more and etc etc it doesnt work like that only its more narratives to account for than pure merrits (especially when its vs another era where cyclnig was terrible)

To be fair until Pogacar came along you could clearly state that Merckx was both the Bill Russell and the Michael Jordan of Cycling as the most decorated rider and the highest level across an extended period.

 

[Blanco]

In your black and white way to say it Roglic is twice the rider Vingegaard is and more and etc etc it doesnt work like that only its more narratives to account for than pure merrits (especially when its vs another era where cyclnig was terrible)

Did somebody told you this, or you came to this conclusion on your own?

 

[Extinction]

You would have to put Pogacar in that era and Merckx now, but this is impossible.