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

[Salvarani]

He obviously already is the goat. A forgone conclusion and something every single cyclist/manager or anyone around the pro cycling in the real world would say without hesitating.

Yup, there is no debate.

 

[BigCoward]

Merckx

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

Pogacar

4x Grand Tours
6x monuments
1x World champion

19

 

[Krzysztof_O]

If we triple Pogs career so far he's about level with EM.
Different times obviously, but cold hard numbers, he has a loooooooooong way to go.

I think it's a realistic assumption that Pogacar is more or less in the middle of his career (achievement-wise), it's 5th year of his prime. This would mean he will pass all guys except Merckx. Obvoiusly one never knows what happens in the future, it's just some assumption. OTOH him covering so far only 1/3 of his winning path seems an underestimation.

 

[BigCoward]

I think it's a realistic assumption that Pogacar is more or less in the middle of his career (achievement-wise). This would mean he will pass all guys except Merckx. Obvoiusly one never know what happens in the future, it's just some assumption.

I just dont know what he will do with his career.
What will he target?

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I just dont know what he will do with his career.
What will he target?

Tour+Liege+Lombardy every year plus bonuses in some years: MSR, Roubaix, Vuelta (biggest races not won), also additional WCs.

 

[vwpe]

Yup, there is no debate.

There actually really isnt. Might be betwen 2-3 forum guys but if you go out and ask people around cycling no matter who its the most commong thing you will find. Pogacar is way better than Merckx ever was its not hard to understand anymore.

Even Eddy have no problem saying it. In cycling now it really already have become common basic stuff as it gets.

What he has done this year and how he did it is second to none, and i doubt we will ever see anything like it in our lifetime again.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Weird that something that's apparently so undebatable keeps leading to a lot of debate. Well at least we can all agree that the Earth is shaped like a banana.

 

[BigCoward]

Pogacar is way better than Merckx ever was its not hard to understand anymore.

But this topic is GOAT, not better.

Every golfer in the PGA Tour would beat Nicholas heads up, who is greater?

 

[rallybanana]

What's the GOAT's opinion?

‘It’s obvious that he is now above me’ – Eddy Merckx hails Tadej Pogačar after Worlds exhibition

Belgian suggests Pogačar is now the greatest cyclist of all time

www.cyclingnews.com

 

[pihi42]

It's good this is happening while Merckx is still with us, so we can all listen to what he has to say.
And Eddy is not one to readily pass the baton to just anybody, even if its a Belgian wunderkid hailed as "the next Merckx" by the press. As it happened many times over the years.

Now came the time when Eddy has accepted there is somebody he can trust to carry his inner "Cannibal" into the future. he's said it himself many times now. He's happy there is somebody truly following his style, in body and in spirit.

Teddy is of the "GOAT" class and lineage, the rarest of them all. As for who's the greatest Pharaoh of Egypt, there is still some debate.
As there will always be the debate between Merckx, Pogačar and the next young cyclist perhaps now watching the races with wide open eyes, dreaming.

 

[snipeheem]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1840686846596009996

View: https://x.com/lucasaganronald/status/1840686846596009996
Already.

 

[Berniece]

What's the GOAT's opinion?

‘It’s obvious that he is now above me’ – Eddy Merckx hails Tadej Pogačar after Worlds exhibition

Belgian suggests Pogačar is now the greatest cyclist of all time

www.cyclingnews.com

He's saying Pogacar is better than him, that doesn't make you the GOAT

 

[E_F_]

GOAT has to be palmares based, and it has to ignore differences between different eras.

 

[pihi42]

GOAT has to be palmares based, and it has to ignore differences between different eras.

Well it isn't. Partially. It's based more on influence on other riders, the press, the fans, the world of sports, the trainers, the legends.
For example, yesterday's win is praised more for how it was achieved than the medal alone.
Eddy won everything sometimes in great style, sometimes not. Tadej is competing and winning less in quantity, but surpassed Merckx yesterday in quality.
We're destined to have this debate for the next 20 years at least This alone is enough. All other GOAT debates ended with "he's clearly not" result.

 

[James M]

‘It’s obvious that he is now above me’ – Eddy Merckx hails Tadej Pogačar after Worlds exhibition

Belgian suggests Pogačar is now the greatest cyclist of all time

www.cyclingnews.com

 

[James M]

well go figure its obvious.

 

[E_F_]

‘It’s obvious that he is now above me’ – Eddy Merckx hails Tadej Pogačar after Worlds exhibition

Belgian suggests Pogačar is now the greatest cyclist of all time

www.cyclingnews.com

Posted here already. Doesn't equate GOAT.

 

[James M]

He's saying Pogacar is better than him, that doesn't make you the GOAT

Atleast you can now admit he is better, goat who cares. Personal preference. Pogacar is Eddys goat and mine too fine if Eddy is yours. But Pog is better everything else is just not objective.

 

[James M]

Posted here already. Doesn't equate GOAT.

Goat is not facts based sorry if i take Eddys word himself over yours as you should prob take his words over mine. Just give it a rest everyone is kinda dialed in it seems havent heard a single guy in the media this past year say Pogacar isnt the goat already, just give it a rest If he is not your goat thats fine its not based on facts. Pointless discussion really.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Indeed, cycling was a much bigger sport in those big countries back then, so the talent from those countries was much better.

Talent didn't even exist in other countries because they simply didn't practise cycling (as a job).

 

[Peyroteo94]

GOAT has to be palmares based, and it has to ignore differences between different eras.

Yeah, I still think Merckx is the GOAT but by your logic, Joe Davis is the best snooker player of all times and Bill Russell the best NBA player

 

[E_F_]

Yeah, I still think Merckx is the GOAT but by your logic, Joe Davis is the best snooker player of all times and Bill Russell the best NBA player

Yeah.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I went to see 1972 RVV results (when Merckx did his best season) and 9 out of 10 are Belgians... Merckx was 7th and the only guy outside Belgium was 8... don't tell me is the same high competitive sport back in the 70's

 

[E_F_]

Goat is not facts based

No way José (Been)

i take Eddys word

So it's based on some authority's opinion?

If he is not your goat thats fine

No, it's a personal opinion!

everyone is kinda dialed in it seems havent heard a single guy in the media this past year say Pogacar isnt the goat already

No it's about consensus!?

Pointless discussion really.

Yet here you are...

 

[James M]

I went to see 1972 RVV results (when Merckx did his best season) and 9 out of 10 are Belgians... Merckx was 7 and the only guy outside Belgium was 8... don't tell me is the same high competitive sport back in the 70's

it isnt its just a end to the need for someone. A very few % are just scrambling nothing else. Eddy is a great obvious the highes of legends this sport has no need to degrade anyone of this status, it doesnt get any better than those. Find me a legend of cycling who already doesnt say Pogacar is the goat and ill wait and not ''Mark'' on a forum besides if you think about it its not really hard at all.