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You must consider the evolution of the sport, not only in terms of science and technology, but talent scouting, globalizzation, etc. The pool in the late 60s/early 70s was pretty much limited to continental riders, with the obvious exceptions. Put Merckx in with today's group and, due to his size and structure, he would probably have a hard time keeping up in the mountains or in the TTs with the likes of those at the top today. He was not the dominat climber in his day, but had exceptional performances. Would the benefits, but also the resultant tougher competition, of that evolution allow him to obtain today a superior level of Pogacar? This is an open question. In essence did Merckx have the same capacity (I intentially avoid the word "talent", because science has taken over) as Pogacar now (and we could throw in the various Vingegaards and Evenepoels)? In short, did Merckx have the same power and endurance, minus the sport's evolution, as the Bigs of today? That is the question.
Merckx would not win half of his wins in this era but I can't know how good he was because he raced 50 years ago. We have an all new sport right now and Merckx was the best of his generation while Pogacar is the best of his generation. I just appreciate what I am witness and this young man is a hell of a rider!
That's been stated since the 1980s, still Merckx won 5 Tours, 5 Giros and a Vuelta, 7 MSR, 2 Flanders, 3 PR, 5 LBL, 3 Worlds and 2 Lombardia, so anyway you cut it that's pretty damn good. He looks pretty damn good too here.
How do you know that?
Yet there‘s few things where Jordan is ahead of LeBron, even though LeBron is playing in a more modern league
Bill Russell the goat , he is Merckx of basketball
Definitely. He will follow the usual building up to get to the top in two weeks. A bit like he does for the italian classics, which starts "slowly" as a human being to reach the alien mode . But with these legs it would already be enough. Psychologically today has already dealt a first tough blow to his opponents.
Yes, he knows how to peak for a race. This is not his mutant shape yet.
When I saw triple hair tufts today I knew his hair was in peak race winning conditionNo gloves today, he was prepared to win this!
He didn't peak for the Giro. It was a training camping for him.
But you still got almost the same preperation to be at 90-95%. He didn’t have to go too much in his powers but he still did some amazing efforts so it was certainly a peak for me. Just got it easier and saved some extra energy for the Tour.
No, you don't. I'm pretty sure his training camp in April was lighter compared to June and he wasn't even sleeping at altitude in April.
....and he would say Julius Erving was Merckx and PT Barnum. Dr J made the NBA what it is today.
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