Seven-time Milan-San Remo winner Eddy Merckx has joined the chorus of those praising Tadej Pogačar for the resourcefulness and determination he showed in finally securing a triumph in La Primavera, but continues to argue that comparisons between his era and that of the Slovenian remain pointless.
Countless column inches and internet debates have been made contrasting Pogačar’s and Merckx’s capacity for racking up the wins in the biggest events cycling can offer, with the Slovenian’s latest victory only adding more fuel to that long-running discussion.
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Asked if he could call Pogačar the new Eddy Merckx, Merckx responded, “No, it makes no sense to do that. He’s simply Pogačar, the best racer in the world right now. And he has been for several seasons.
Merckx insisted that comparisons were pointless because his era and Pogacar’s were so different, pointing to the number of race days – riders did considerably more in his time – compared to the limited amount of competition for Pogačar and plenty of other racers. Just doing one event before San Remo, as Pogačar did, “would have been inconceivable in my day.”
Merckx also heaped praise on Pogačar by saying that the Slovenian champion had known exactly what strategy to adopt given the setbacks without ever losing control of the race.
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