Eddy Merckx hails 'best in the world' Tadej Pogacar but shuts down comparisons between the pair - 'Cycling today is light years different'
Published 23/03/2026 at 15:51 GMT
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After Tadej Pogacar got over the line at Milano-Sanremo, legendary cyclist Eddy Merckx credited the "best in the world" as "simply Pogacar", but drew the line at comparing himself to the Slovenian. Merckx feels that he and Pogacar cannot be compared because of the difference in cycling between now and his era during the 1960s and 70s. "Cycling today is light years different".
What is left for Pogacar to complete cycling?
Video credit: TNT Sports
Eddy Merckx is considered one of the greatest cyclists of all time and the Belgian has joined those heaping praise on Tadej Pogacar after he won a thrilling Milano-Sanremo.
Merckx, who has won the Tour de France a record five times, was in awe of Pogacar's performance, as he trumped British rider Tom Pidcock to win the race for the first time.
"Great. Amazing. It left me speechless with admiration. It was one of his most amazing wins to date," Merckx said, which only fuelled comparisons between the two cycling greats.
But Merckx insisted those comparisons were "unimaginable" because his era of cycling - where he dominated in the late 1960s and throughout the 70s - was "light years different" from today's.
”No, it's nonsense to say that," the legendary cyclist claimed in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.
"He's simply Pogacar, the best in the world right now. And he has been for several seasons. He's not even 28 yet, so he gives the impression he still has a lot of cycling ahead of him.
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Highlights: Pogacar burnishes GOAT candidacy with stunning Milano-Sanremo win
Video credit: TNT Sports
"Moreover, he's started the season better than usual.”
Pogacar is closing in on Merckx's Tour de France record, having won the iconic race four times - in 2020, 2021, 2024 and 2025.
Despite his dominance in today's era of cycling, Merckx doubled down on the fact that he and Pogacar cannot be compared.
"Cycling today is light years different from when I was racing," Merckx explained.
"How can you compare two such different worlds? How can you say who's stronger between us?
"One of the biggest differences is the number of races we competed in. In my case, there were many more, while Pogacar, I don't think, ever competed for more than 70 days a season."
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Merckx pointed out that participating in just one event prior to Milano-Sanremo "would have been inconceivable in my day".
However, Merckx was under no illusion that Pogacar was producing world-class levels as he triumphed in Italy and delivered a performance of "a true champion".
"The most important was that fall before the Cipressa," he said. "Who would not have been discouraged? Who would not have considered Sanremo lost, or at least badly affected?
"He didn't. His reaction was that of a real champion."
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