Alberto Contador, at his time, emerged as a brilliant new stage-racer which was among the best in climbing and time-trialing, which turned him into a multiple Grand Tour winner. Tadej Pogacar emerges as a talent that sees similar characteristics in current cycling, and Contador has shared his views on the Slovenian.
“Do I think Pogacar is unstoppable this season? Well, if we go by what we have seen so far then we could say he looks unstoppable," Contador said in an interview with Eurosport. “But I think that there is a lot of the season left. I think he is going for the Classics this year… and we will need to see how he manages his efforts. He is putting a lot of energy into his attacks and this could end up taking its toll."
Contador is conservative when seeing Pogacar's aggressive racing stance. This has brought him great success early in the year as he won the Clásica Jaén Paraiso Interior, three stages and overall classification at both Vuelta a Andalucia and Paris-Nice. However a rider of his talent eyes bigger goals. The Tour de France specifically this year is one of them, and he wonders if Pogacar is digging too deep.
Asked if he should be more conservative in his racing, Contador responds: “I wouldn’t like it because I think one of the things that allows us cycling fans to enjoy the sport is enjoy the type of show that Pogacar can put on. It’s incredible how he can go for it from a great distance from the finish line, or in the yellow jersey or just for some bonus seconds to keep gaining time. I think that is gold and I wouldn’t like to see him race in a smarter way. A separate thing is what him and his team decide with regards to winning the Tour de France again.”
“The Tour is by no means an easy task. There are a lot of factors that come into play," the Spaniard continues. "Hitting peak form, preparation, the recovery over three weeks, how his team work, how Jumbo work – his main rival. I think there are a lot of variables. It’s true, for now he looks unbeatable and Pogacar is capable of almost anything but I do think that there will be some races that will be harder for him than others.”
In terrain that is not as favourable, Pogacar rode to fourth at Milano-Sanremo. He's leading UAE Team Emirates at the E3 Saxo Classic this Friday, as he gears up towards the Tour des Flandres where he was fourth last year. It's a terrain where other riders are best suited and willing to take more risks as they do not fight for the Grand Tours later in the year, however the Slovenian has managed to slot himself right up there with the very best quickly.
“There is almost a burning eagerness for the race to start. Wanting to give everything your body has got and trying to gain differences on any stage whether it’s a mountain stage or a time trial… because there is no other thought in your mind apart from winning the Tour de France again," Contador shares, being one of the few riders who understands Pogacar's stiaution.
"I think that right now this is what is going through Tadej Pogacar’s head. I am sure the thought has fuelled him during the pre-season and before the first race of the season. And I think that at the Tour de France he will have a real hunger to get back onto the highest point of the podium in Paris," he concluded.
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