"And then there's that smile..." - Bernard Hinault on why Tadej Pogacar strikes a chord with fans more than Jonas Vingegaard

You'll often find that in any sport, the most dominant winners aren't always the most adored as fans prefer to see the underdog triumph over the all-conquering force. In Tadej Pogacar's case however, not only is he won of the most victorious riders in the current peloton, but also one of the most celebrated.

According to the iconic figure in French cycling, Bernard Hinault, there is a clear and obvious reason for the almost universal love of the Slovenian leader of UAE Team Emirates. "Pogacar is more playful than Jonas Vingegaard. And then there's that smile..." 'the Badger' analyses warmly in conversation with Eurosport. "Sport is not a job. It's a game, a pleasure, a joy."

In some seriously lofty praise, Hinault announces he sees a lot of himself in Pogacar and a lot of the legendary Eddy Merckx also. "He wins in the spring, he wins in the summer, he wins at the end of the season," lists the 69-year-old, five time Maillot Jaune winner. "He's the one who is closest to us, honestly. He attacks, he has fun, he's happy."

This isn't the first time that Hinault has spoken warmly of Pogacar either. The Frenchman previously lauded praise on the Slovenian following his dominant Giro d'Italia win earlier this year. "We come from different generations, but I like his character and his temperament," Hinault told La Gazzetta dello Sport back in May. "Pogacar wants to win in every race. He doesn't always manage it, but that's not the point. I like his attitude."

After his dominance at the Giro d'Italia and the injury interrupted preparations of his main Maillot Jaune rivals, Pogacar starts as the overwhelming pre-race favourite for the 2024 Tour de France. Supported by the likes of Joao Almeida, Adam Yates and Juan Ayuso among others, the strength of the UAE Team Emirates lineup also looks to be far superior of the rest of the peloton.