Alejandro Valverde: "Tadej Pogacar is an exceptional rider but Remco Evenepoel is the best in the world by far"

Cycling
Monday, 24 April 2023 at 16:31
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Alejandro Valverde is very clear about who for him is the best cyclist of the moment. The rider from Murcia, who this weekend makes his debut with Movistar Team in the gravel discipline, gives his opinion on Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel who headline this Sunday's Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

"Tadej Pogacar is an exceptional rider but Remco Evenepoel is the best in the world by far. Evenepoel does things that surprise everyone, so for me he's the best," he told Cyclingnews.

The Spanish cyclist finished his professional career with 133 wins, many of them prestigious, but believes the young Belgian is going to be better than him. Ahead of Liège-Bastogne-Liège where the two will meet for the first time this season and be the main favourites to win La Doyenne, the number 1 and 3 in the UCI rankings stand apart of almost the entire peloton.

However the World Champion has something different, according to 'Bala': "With what he has already shown so far, for sure he is going to be better than me. To win the World Championships so young, to win the Vuelta a España, the Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the Clásica de San Sebastián, all that is impressive," he concluded.

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StardustDragon 08 June 2024 at 20:25+ 1653

The best of Complaining you mean? He complaining more often, than doing actual racing... 🙄🙄🙄. He is the King of Primadone 🤐🤐🤐. His obnoxious antics often rubbing me the wrong way🤦🏻

rshimizu12 08 June 2024 at 20:25+ 12

There is no evidence to support that claim.

roadman54121 08 June 2024 at 20:25+ 418

Time will tell. We have only seen the tip of the iceberg with Evanpoel. Whatever happens in the future - we sure are in for some great cycle racing to watch.

Veganpotter 08 June 2024 at 20:25+ 602

It's only the tip of the iceberg for Pogo too, despite having palmares that would be great to retire with. He's just about to start tickling his prime too.

Mistermaumau 08 June 2024 at 20:25+ 3278

Guys, I hope you’re both right but I wouldn’t put my hand in the fire for either of their careers. Unlike the older MVDP and WVA who are also not past their peak, these two rose to such a high level so fast so young with so much volume, you have to worry about premature burn-out. I wouldn’t be surprised if they have 2-3 more great seasons before experiencing a slump and both are not the type to be able to deal well with something like that so not sure they’d adapt and work their way out of it for a comeback.

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StardustDragon 08 June 2024 at 20:25+ 1653

Delated those comments, sorry😅

MidnightRider 08 June 2024 at 20:25+ 733

The problem with Valverde's statement is that just a couple of weeks ago Evenepoel wasn't even better than Primoz Roglic. He has won some monster races and is clearly one of the 6 "galacticos," but how can we say he is "far" better than a rider he has not beaten this year? Pogacar has not won a World Championship, but other than that his palmares is far greater than Evenepoel's. I don't think anyone will be surprised if/when Evenepoel does beat Pogacar at a big race, but until then there is just no basis for Valverde's position.

BuckNaked 08 June 2024 at 20:25+ 32

I respect Valverde, but I don't agree with him here. Pogacar has won the tour de France as well as several monuments and numerous week long stage races. Yes, Remco has the world title, but until he wins a tour de France you can't really compare. It's a big step up from the vuelta to the tour, something which Valverde was never able to achieve.

JoostV 08 June 2024 at 20:25+ 16

Although I am Belgian myself, I beg to differ. There in no denying Remco is an exceptional rider but Pogi is even more exceptional. All the arguments Valverde applied for Remco, are valid for Pogi as well. The way he rode away from the competition uphill this spring, is beyond anything I have ever seen. He almost won all races he participated in. Unlike Remco. In his first big test he was beaten by Roglic. If Pogi stays healthy, nobody stands a chance in the tour, not even Vingegaard with a much better team. He was a little lucky last year at the tour that Pogi was not at his best due to private problems.

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StardustDragon 08 June 2024 at 20:25+ 1653

Spot on!

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