Well it depends on your definition of top level performance. Pogacar already had a gt more impressive than any of Gesink or Mollema. But he has not yet shown performances that made me think, this is already at the level of a gt winner. I still think his Vuelta mostly looked so great because of the total lack of good competition outside of Roglic.
I still think the comparison with Mas a year earlier is quite good. Mas also had a gt better than any of Gesink or Mollema, but like Pogacar he only achieved what he did because the competition wasn't that great. Now two years later the hype around him has completely died. Maybe it will make a comeback at the Tour but I honestly doubt it.
In fairness, I think Pogacar is better than Mas and argubly the gt podium Pogacar achieved when he was 21 looked even more impressive than the one Mas achieved aged 23 (that long range attack by Pogacar on stage 20, I have to admit, that smelled a bit like greatness). But my point is, those young climbers stop improving very suddenly and the only question is when they do. They might at a higher level than Mollema or Gesink, but just because they get a vuelta podium and a few stage wins they don't automatically have to improve all the way to the ranks of "legendary climber".
I still think the comparison with Mas a year earlier is quite good. Mas also had a gt better than any of Gesink or Mollema, but like Pogacar he only achieved what he did because the competition wasn't that great. Now two years later the hype around him has completely died. Maybe it will make a comeback at the Tour but I honestly doubt it.
In fairness, I think Pogacar is better than Mas and argubly the gt podium Pogacar achieved when he was 21 looked even more impressive than the one Mas achieved aged 23 (that long range attack by Pogacar on stage 20, I have to admit, that smelled a bit like greatness). But my point is, those young climbers stop improving very suddenly and the only question is when they do. They might at a higher level than Mollema or Gesink, but just because they get a vuelta podium and a few stage wins they don't automatically have to improve all the way to the ranks of "legendary climber".