Eddy Merckx says it is 'obvious' Tadej Pogacar a level 'above me' after world title triumph - 'No more doubt it'
By Oli Gent
Updated 30/09/2024 at 23:52 GMT+1
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Eddy Merckx, one of the greatest road cyclists in history, has admitted that he now believes that Tadej Pogacar is "above" him when it comes to all-time achievements. The Slovenian became just the third male rider in history to win the Giro d'Italia, Tour de France and World Championships in the same season, a feat that Mercx himself was the first to achieve in 1974.
Relive the winning moments as Pogacar becomes first Slovenian world champion
Video credit: TNT Sports
Eddy Merckx believes that Tadej Pogacar is now "above" him in the all-time road cycling rankings after the Slovenian repeated his triple crown feat.
Pogacar has won the Giro d'Italia, Tour de France and UCI Road World Championships this year, becoming only the third man to do so, after Merckx in 1974 and Stephen Roche in 1987.
The UAE Team Emirates rider won the men's elite road race on Sunday in style, 34 seconds ahead of Ben O'Connor in second.
It crowned a stunning year, only blemished by his absence from Paris 2024, which he missed due to fatigue after his Giro and Tour victories.
Pogacar's accolades this year and in his glittering career have left Merckx - widely known as one of, if not the, greatest road cyclist of all time - to admit that the 26-year-old had surpassed him.
“It’s obvious that he is now above me,” Merckx told L’Equipe.
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“Deep down, I already thought as much when I saw what he did on the last Tour de France, but [now] there’s no more doubt about it.”
Pogacar won his first world title at the weekend in Zurich, Switzerland, attacking with more than 100km to go, but he held on to better his third-placed finish from a year ago.
The 26-year-old's success has led to countless comparisons with Merckx, who could not believe the audacity of the Slovenian to attack with so far remaining in the race.
“Obviously, you can never compare eras, but this is an incredible rider,” Merckx said.
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Evenepoel describes Pogacar’s attack from 100km as a ‘suicide move’ in ‘normal’ circumstances
Video credit: TNT Sports
“I didn’t attack with 100km to go in a World Championship, but what he has done is unimaginable. It’s something we’ll remember for a very long time.
“He took a lot of risks against [Mathieu] van der Poel and [Remco] Evenepoel, but that didn’t scare him. That’s when you realise that Pogacar is an immense champion. He’s out of the ordinary.”
Pogacar has won one Giro - this year's - and three Tours, but that still leaves him some way shy of Merckx's five titles in each.
Merckx also won the Vuelta a Espana in 1973, another title that eludes Pogacar in his quest for a complete Grand Tour set.
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Relive all the action of the men’s UCI World Championships road race on discovery+.
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