Pogacar and Merckx met. The GOAT proclaimed Pogi as "the new Merckx" again.
"I have heard many times 'this is the new Merckx' without the conditions being fulfilled, but with Tadej I think we are really there this time,"
"He is 23 and has already won the Tour de France twice, incredible."
"Tadej is only at the beginning of his career, I think he can do better than me in some races. He is 23 years old and has already won the Tour de France twice and 30 races, that is unbelievable. At 24, I had not even won the Tour. He is still at the beginning of his career, but I think he is doing better than me in some races. He is a great champion and we are going to enjoy him for many years to come."
Most impressive rides:
"I already understood that he had something special when in his first year as a professional he had won three stages at the Vuelta, the last of which attacking 37km from the finish with all the Movistar chasing behind. And then this year at the Tour, in the stage of Le Grand-Bornand, he destroyed all the competition by trimming minutes after minutes..."
Advice from the legend:
"I can only tell him to keep his feet on the ground because every year he starts from scratch and every year he will have to prove that he is the strongest. But he knows this very well, and he has a great team around him who can help him a lot, taking care of everything down to the smallest detail. He is a complete rider, if he remains what we have seen so far he will win many other Tour de France and, obviously, also the Giro d'Italia."
Any weakness shown by Pogacar?
"I think not. He has the mentality and professionalism of the great champion and when you have them you have no weaknesses."
Pogacar said it's impossible to do what Eddy did but he expressed desire to win many races:
"Eddy is a total racer, he has won everywhere. It will be difficult for me to win a Milan-San Remo [once], let alone seven like he did. I certainly like to win, but I also know how to accept defeat. Every race I participate in I try to make my mark, even if it is a simple criterium in Slovenia. But I believe it is in the nature of every cyclist"
"This year I finished third in the Olympics, I would like to go back to win the gold medal. But I'd also like to win a World Championship. And the Giro. And also the Vuelta"
It will spur Remco, won't it? Time to rename this thread accordingly.
Merckx says Pogacar could surpass his career
www.cyclingnews.com
Eddy consacra Tadej: "Può fare ciò che ho fatto io"
www.tuttobiciweb.it