Tadej Pogacar and Mauro Giannetti

[Gianetti_Is_The_Goat]

What if we don't?

None of this lets Pogi, UAE or Gianetti off the hook but objectivity is important. Merckx was still more ridiculous and there were none of the "methods" and sophistication around back then that we suspect today. I think blood doping had been tried but I haven't read anywhere that Merckx was into that or that blood doping was responsible for his records.

But I am glad there were no online cycling forums back then

Objectively Pogacar is still a long way short of Merckx best seasons. Below tables are from PCS. And according to a Google search 1969 wasn't Merckx best year - 1972 and 1974 were.

Also check how many racing kilometres and days Merckx was doing compared to what they are doing now (assuming Pog is typical for the top riders today):

Pogacar
2024​	9959 km in 58 days | PCS points: 4588 | UCI points: 11655
2025 (7-Oct)	8394 km in 49 days | PCS points: 4646 | UCI points: 10880
Merckx
1974​	15958 km in 93 days | PCS points: 5564
1973​	14655 km in 87 days | PCS points: 5707
1972​	14385 km in 80 days | PCS points: 6275
1969​	12145 km in 73 days | PCS points: 4734

Merckx was caught three times anyway.
Consider the opposition.
Many races looked more like a Belgian championship.
LBL 1969: 7 Belgians in top 20.
MSR: 1969: 6 Belgians in top 10.
Amstel 1969: top 7 (!): all Belgians and only two nationalities in top 20.
Omloop Het Volk 1972: 18 Belgians in top 20
Tour of Flanders: 9 Belgians in top 10.

Merckx basically rode against regional opposition.

I don't know how the km are relevant in this story. Considering most riders in Merckx era rode similar full programs, Pogacars domination is even more remarkable. There was very little specialization in the Merckx era.

 

[Extinction]

Merckx was caught three times anyway.
Consider the opposition.
Many races looked more like a Belgian championship.
LBL 1969: 7 Belgians in top 20.
MSR: 1969: 6 Belgians in top 10.
Amstel 1969: top 7 (!): all Belgians and only two nationalities in top 20.
Omloop Het Volk 1972: 18 Belgians in top 20
Tour of Flanders: 9 Belgians in top 10.

Merckx basically rode against regional opposition.

I don't know how the km are relevant in this story. Considering most riders in Merckx era rode similar full programs, Pogacars domination is even more remarkable. There was very little specialization in the Merckx era.

In that region of that era were all the biggest talents, so what is your point? You can't mix apples with oranges. Or else we could magically put Pogi in the Merckx era and vice versa.

 

[Cookster15]

I don't know how the km are relevant in this story

Merckyx achieved more wins than Pogacar despite less recovery (see next quote). Maybe Merckyx's talent had something to do with that? Maybe Pogacar's talent has something more to do with his record than purely doping?

There was very little specialization in the Merckx era.

Modern specialisation methods aid both recovery and performance. Less specialisation makes Merckyx more impressive compared to Pogacar.

Many races looked more like a Belgian championship.

That is an exaggeration based upon one day races. Casually looking at grand tours Merckyx won, there were also riders like Poulidor (France), Gimondi (Italy) and Ocaña (Spain) or Zoetemelk (Netherlands). All famous non Belgian names today.

Merckx basically rode against regional opposition.

A very large exaggeration. This is the farmers slur against all those other riders of that era - see above.

But what hasn't been answered in this thread is how unqualified Gianetti knew Pogacar would be such a great responder when he brought him to UAE in the first place?

Pogacar was barely 20 years old when Gianetti noticed him. And I would say being a qualified medical physician Dr Michele Ferrari was far more qualified to understand doping practices for cyclists than unqualified Mauro Gianetti ever was (or is).

 

[Gianetti_Is_The_Goat]

"Modern specialisation methods aid both recovery and performance. Less specialisation makes Merckyx more impressive compared to Pogacar."

Sure. Winning all kinds of races against different riders who focus on specific races is less impressive than winning against the same peloton. If you say so. Whatever.

 

[Gianetti_Is_The_Goat]

In that region of that era were all the biggest talents, so what is your point? You can't mix apples with oranges. Or else we could magically put Pogi in the Merckx era and vice versa.

It means that cycling wasn't a global sport. The overall quality was much lower.

 

[BubbaChuck]

lol racing against specialist is less impressive,bahhha-like i said,pogacar murders remco and joans without fifty camps.lets be serius.

 

[aphronesis]

It means that cycling wasn't a global sport. The overall quality was much lower.

Huh, so rustic cycling was higher? Maybe, but why bother with the claim?

 

[Extinction]

It means that cycling wasn't a global sport. The overall quality was much lower.

You are aware that more people raced in Europe back then than people do around the world today?

 

[dr.eve]

Merckx was caught three times anyway.
Consider the opposition.
Many races looked more like a Belgian championship.
LBL 1969: 7 Belgians in top 20.
MSR: 1969: 6 Belgians in top 10.
Amstel 1969: top 7 (!): all Belgians and only two nationalities in top 20.
Omloop Het Volk 1972: 18 Belgians in top 20
Tour of Flanders: 9 Belgians in top 10.

Merckx basically rode against regional opposition.

I don't know how the km are relevant in this story. Considering most riders in Merckx era rode similar full programs, Pogacars domination is even more remarkable. There was very little specialization in the Merckx era.

Not sure why many are so going against your post, sure you write it a bit black and white. But I completely agree with you. That era, no offense, people can't claim quality and competition are comparable. My dad rode competively in that era and just seeing his material... Well that is laughable compared to this era.

 

[dr.eve]

You are aware that more people raced in Europe back then than people do around the world today?

I highly doubt this claim, any data anywhere to back this up?

 

[Cookster15]

"Modern specialisation methods aid both recovery and performance. Less specialisation makes Merckyx more impressive compared to Pogacar."

Sure. Winning all kinds of races against different riders who focus on specific races is less impressive than winning against the same peloton. If you say so. Whatever.

I was addressing your point about specialisation in Merckyx’s era not the rest.

And the OP also implied Pogacar came from nowhere when he was 20 years old. I’ve also challenged that assumption. Pog is also only 15 months older than Remco. Not sure what we think riders should be doing when they are 18?

That era, no offense, people can't claim quality and competition are comparable.

Of course but that wasn’t my point. The comment was “I don't know how the km are relevant in this story”. It’s relevant because nobody understood periodisation back then. Lack of recovery made Merckx’s feats even harder compared to today - regardless if all his competition did similar. And looking at Tour speeds on heavier, less aero and slower bikes that wasn’t exactly slow either (36km/h over 4,117km in 1969). These days they race about 800km less in the Tour compared to that same year (3,301km this year).

Of course I think Pogacar is doping. How could he not be with these performances. The question is do we think he has an unfair advantage? That’s where it gets murky.

 

[Gianetti_Is_The_Goat]

I highly doubt this claim, any data anywhere to back this up?

It's nonsense.

 

[Gianetti_Is_The_Goat]

Not sure why many are so going against your post, sure you write it a bit black and white. But I completely agree with you. That era, no offense, people can't claim quality and competition are comparable. My dad rode competively in that era and just seeing his material... Well that is laughable compared to this era.

On top of that:
1969 TdF: 130 riders
2025 TdF: 184 riders

Looking forward to the explanation how a larger peloton increases your chance for stage victories.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I was addressing your point about specialisation in Merckyx’s era not the rest.

And the OP also implied Pogacar came from nowhere when he was 20 years old. I’ve also challenged that assumption. Pog is also only 15 months older than Remco. Not sure what we think riders should be doing when they are 18?

Of course but that wasn’t my point. The comment was “I don't know how the km are relevant in this story”. It’s relevant because nobody understood periodisation back then. Lack of recovery made Merckx’s feats even harder compared to today - regardless if all his competition did similar. And looking at Tour speeds on heavier, less aero and slower bikes that wasn’t exactly slow either (36km/h over 4,117km in 1969). These days they race about 800km less in the Tour compared to that same year (3,301km this year).

Of course I think Pogacar is doping. How could he not be with these performances. The question is do we think he has an unfair advantage? That’s where it gets murky.

His leap in performance is completely due to his coach changing. Not doping related for sure.
Anyone here believes he wasn't doping or doping less in 2019-2023? Gianetti is there since the beginning... Pogacar was the only one in UAE to have this rise on his performance. All others had a steady progression. The only guy who was training with San Milan stagnated (Ayuso), curious...
Pogacar used to struggle in the heat, now he doesn't have any problems with this. It's ridiculous to think this has anything to do with doping.
I know some people will say it’s crazy but San Milan hampered him and Sola + his doping program (I don't believe they are in front of teams like RB, Visma, Lidl) made Pogacar the best ever. The potential was there, even in his first 2 TdF wins he carried some baby fat, not anymore.

 

[BubbaChuck]

people say pogacar has advantage ,cause of modern recovery.hilarius.everything aplies to his competition.when eddie fought dead competitors,pog is actualyl facing fresh chumps,who are preparing months for specific event.if everrybody was on same program,pogacar would look lik he is racing his kids.picture mvp fighting pog whole season,lmaoo.he would retire after 1 season.

 

[Rob5091]

But what hasn't been answered in this thread is how unqualified Gianetti knew Pogacar would be such a great responder when he brought him to UAE in the first place?

Pogacar was barely 20 years old when Gianetti noticed him. And I would say being a qualified medical physician Dr Michele Ferrari was far more qualified to understand doping practices for cyclists than unqualified Mauro Gianetti ever was (or is).

Funny you should mention it, as I was looking through Pogi's results from 2018 (when he turned 20 in September of that year and was riding for Ljubljana Gusto Xaurum). He seemed to be able to hold his own with the better guys. It does not come as a surprise that a WT team would test him out. I don't think Gianetti or UAE knew how good Pogacar would be, but it seems he's a super responder to something.