Yes, it does, especially if your name is Alejandro Valverde. Granted Ryan has all the credentials of a roadside pundit, but first hand experience is something else. The point is that Ryan wrote that a few days ago, not in June. The fact is that things have simply changed, which makes Ryan's statement arrogant and without sense. If we're talking about the top performance of the year Vingegaard would have to take the prize on the Granon and for winning the Tour. If we're talking about the top rider of the year, then it's Evenepoel, as his Velo d'Or attests for winning a monument, GT and Worlds together. Hence we cannot say that Pogacar at present is the best rider in the World, unlike last year.
Valverde's statement regarding by far the best was given after Worlds, for which, given the minutes that separated Remco from all the rest, it was not an exaggeration. What this means for the future is anyone's guess. However, the differences in the high mountains will inevitably be contained, but those on other terrains and disciplines will surely ofter some interesting points of reference.