ANALYSIS: Is Tadej Pogacar About to Complete Cycling’s Greatest Ever Season?
CyclingTuesday, 17 September 2024 at 10:34
In Quebec on Friday, the cycling world witnessed a rare
sight: Tadej Pogacar denied victory. Yet, as Sunday rolled around and the GP de
Montréal unfolded, the Slovenian cycling star once again showcased why he is
widely considered the number one rider of his generation. Heading into the 2024
World Championships in Zurich with the Montreal win under his belt, Pogacar is
in formidable form, ready to conquer once again.
After taking nearly two months off following the Tour de
France in July, Pogacar's return to racing sends a clear warning to his
competitors. Despite the rest period, he remains in the kind of shape that saw
him dismantle his rivals in both the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France earlier
in 2024. His extraordinary Giro-Tour double was a feat no rider had managed
since Marco Pantani in 1998. Pogacar's dominance this season positions him to
potentially make history, and should he don the rainbow jersey later this
month, it would cement what could arguably be the greatest season ever achieved
by a cyclist.
With such lofty possibilities, it begs the question: who
else in cycling history has had a season that rivals Pogacar’s phenomenal 2024?
Eddy Merckx – 1972
One name inevitably comes to mind when discussing dominant
cycling seasons: Eddy Merckx. Known as "The Cannibal" for his
relentless pursuit of victory, Merckx had several awe-inspiring seasons, but
his 1972 campaign stands out as one of the finest. That year, Merckx claimed
victory in both the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France, similar to Pogacar's
feat this season.
The 1972 season also saw Merckx win, Milan-San Remo, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the Giro di Lombardia,
and La Flèche Wallonne and dominate numerous other events. His complete
mastery of the sport across a variety of races makes his 1972 season one of the
greatest in the history of cycling. If Pogacar captures the rainbow jersey in
Zurich, it would be difficult to overlook the parallels to Merckx's mythical
1972.
Bernard Hinault – 1982
Another cycling icon whose name belongs in the conversation
is Bernard Hinault, a man whose nickname, "The Badger," reflected his
aggressive and tenacious riding style. Hinault had an illustrious career, but
the 1982 season stands out as a highlight. Like Pogacar in 2024, Hinault
completed a Giro-Tour double, asserting his dominance over the peloton and
demonstrating his versatility as a rider.
What made Hinault’s season truly remarkable was his ability
to dominate across the entirety of the season, not just in Grand Tours. In
addition to his victories at the Giro and Tour, Hinault added wins in
prestigious races and was narrowly denied victory in
Paris-Roubaix. While he didn’t win the World Championship that year, Hinault’s
1982 season was one of complete mastery and strength, reminiscent of Pogacar’s
all-around brilliance.
Fausto Coppi – 1949
Fausto Coppi, a name synonymous with cycling legend,
delivered an unforgettable season in 1949. During this period, Coppi won both
the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France, much like Pogacar’s feats in 2024.
The Italian rider was particularly dominant in his home race, the Giro, where
he took the overall classification, the King of the Mountains jersey, and
multiple stages.
At the Tour de France, Coppi's performance was no less
impressive. He rode away from his competitors in the mountains and finished
nearly 11 minutes ahead of his nearest rival. Not content with simply
dominating the Grand Tours, Coppi also took home the victory at the Giro di
Lombardia, one of cycling’s Monuments, solidifying his place as the preeminent
rider of his time.
Coppi’s 1949 season is remembered as a hallmark of
excellence and a turning point in the sport. Like Pogacar, Coppi was revered
for his ability to win across all terrains and for his incredible consistency
throughout the season.
Stephen Roche – 1987
In terms of historical comparisons, Stephen Roche’s 1987
season is one of the few that can match the magnitude of Pogacar’s achievements
in 2024. Roche’s season is legendary because of the rare “triple crown” he
achieved that year: winning the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France, and the World
Championship.
Roche’s victories were not without drama. In the Giro, he
won by 3:40 minutes, one of the narrowest margins in the race’s history. At
the Tour de France, he cemented his place in cycling history with a stunning
performance on La Plagne, a high-altitude finish where he dramatically clawed
back time on the leaders. To top it all off, Roche claimed the World
Championship title in Austria, making him only the second rider ever (after
Merckx) to win the Giro, Tour, and World Championships in the same season.
This incredible feat stands as one of the most prestigious
accomplishments in cycling, and should Pogacar win the rainbow jersey later
this month, his season would undoubtedly invite comparisons to Roche’s
phenomenal 1987.
Marco Pantani – 1998
While Pantani’s career was marred by controversy, his 1998
season remains one of the most remarkable displays of climbing prowess the
sport has ever seen. Pantani, like Pogacar, achieved the Giro-Tour double,
winning both races in a season that saw him devastate his rivals on the
steepest of climbs.
Pantani's ability to dominate in the mountains and to
deliver knockout punches during the most challenging stages of both the Giro
and the Tour captured the imagination of cycling fans. His aggressive racing
style, attacking on every opportunity, made him a fan favourite and added to
the legend of his 1998 campaign. Like Pogacar, Pantani’s season was defined by
his willingness to attack and take risks, often leading from the front and
pushing the pace at every opportunity.
Conclusion: Can Pogacar Seal His Place in History?
As Pogacar heads into the World Championships, there’s no
denying the historic nature of his 2024 season. From his unparalleled Giro-Tour
double to his recent triumphs in Canada, he has solidified himself as the most
dominant rider of the modern era. Should he claim the rainbow jersey in Zurich,
he will have etched his name among the greatest seasons in cycling history,
comparable to legends like Merckx, Hinault, Coppi, and Roche.
claps 3visitors 3
Just in
Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter today!
May 12, 11:09
0
Popular news
Latest comments
- As an Aussie residing in Melbourne, it would be incredible to have Pogacar, Vingegaard, Roglic, Evenepoel, etc. time trialling down Beach Road (and claiming all the KOMs along the way), and up the Dandenongs and the three peaks... but come on, let's be realistic here! The logistics and expenses would make it way too hard and the audience/market in Australia is small (only one of my colleagues cycles to work in a workplace with hundreds of staff and the vast majority of Aussies simply do not care about cycling, let alone any grand tours). If anything, the organisers might do better to take it to the States if they want a bigger audience / increase viewership.Pogboom15-05-2025
- You don't even know what happened and you're somehow claiming the justice system got it wrong? On what grounds exactly are you making such claims? There was clear CCTV footage of the incident. It was a tragic accident caused by a heated argument (about kitchen cabinets believe it or not...) with Rohan wanting to leave the situation to cool off. There are two children to think about too - throwing the dad in jail for an accident is not the right way to handle this situation. Moreover, for the rest of his life, Rohan will know that his children will always have the thought in the back of their minds that "daddy killed mummy" - I think that is way worse than a few years in jail.Pogboom15-05-2025
- Why? Why? Do you want your cyclists to suffer from jet lag?
KerisVroom15-05-2025 - I don't think having caused a person to die and having that on your conscience for the rest of your life is getting off scott free. Guilt is a dreadful thing to have on your conscience. It is there dragging you down untill you take your last breath. That hanging over you for the rest of your life is far worse than a jail sentence.Cyclingsbestfan15-05-2025
- Born a DaneJumpyjohn15-05-2025
- When I see the articles and favours done for Tudor and Q36.5 I winder if it’s not more advantageous to be relegated 😏Jumpyjohn15-05-2025
- He completely got off scott free. Celebrities always get a lot of leniency in term of punishment. Hunter Biden also got off. Jared Kushner's dad got pardoned. Bill Cosby walked free. A normal person would be languishing in jail.abstractengineer15-05-2025
- This article shows a lot of what’s wrong in today’s communication « capitalism » Using one rider in a title to introduce a story about another, using media to influence deal-making, trying to create attention pre-results, etc. Just go get your podium and THEN use your platform.Jumpyjohn15-05-2025
- According to the disgraced GT champion himself, Lance Armstrong, the Grand Tours are where you'll see the strongest athletes in all of sports. These riders do a 250 km race today, and another 200km race tomorrow, followed by a 30km time trial, then capped off with a mountain stage with 4000m elevation gain.. and that is only for the first week. I guess that's why doping became part of the sport, because of the extreme pressure these riders go through in a 21-day race. Talk about endurance, that's what it's all about. Sagan may be fast, and Cavendish, and Pedersen and Wout and MVDP,, but they can hardly finish a grand tour.FredMan15-05-2025
- Nice try dude..FredMan15-05-2025
Pogačar and Roglič in 2021 didn't show any strength. Mohorič was the only one who raced the final, he was 14th at the end.
For this year I think Pogačar is their main man, but you never know. Roglič is a plan B, while Tratnik and Mohorič (who btw didn't have a stellar season due to some bad luck) are wildcards who can attack far from the finish.
In 2021 Mohoric was kind of a self-proclaimed leader because "the course was perfect for him", so getting him in the final selection was job done pretty much but he didn't have the legs to finish it off
they all had a free role including Roglič who couldn't do much on that route which wasn't perfect for him. He was never going to be the main card to play to be honest. He didn't even know where to ride because it was too technical for him, while Tadej said he missed the split due to bad position. Alaphilippe killed everyone with that attack btw. Tadej wasn't good enough (just yet) on the cobbles back in 2021 and actually nobody cared about WC apart from Matej. Nobody else was targeting that, let's be real. The only WC route Roglič can target is if they make a 210 km long race with a finish on a steep long climb.
For the most part I agree, however I'm pretty sure Pogacar would make that final selection but the split happened a few riders in front of him, and his positioning in cobbled classics, understandably, wasn't as great as it is now
These comparisons drive me bananas. Different eras, different styles of racing, different motivations of the riders because of different economics of the sport, and so on. You just can't compare. But, if Pogacar wins two grand tours, two monuments, and a world championship (as is still possible) it would be the best season statistically since Merckx - and yet: does it matter? He's an astonishing rider, and where Cannibal and Badger are names of aggression, he rides with smiles and exudes joy. Ruthlessly competitive, sure, but nearly always kind and nearly always smiling. That's different than stats, but just as important.
There are multiple wrong information in this article...