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Dutch legend Joop Zoetemelk on Tadej Pogacar: "Can he be compared to riders from my time such as Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault?"
CyclingSaturday, 18 May 2024 at 12:15
Joop Zoetemelk is one of the greats in the history of Dutch cycling and nowadays he continues to be present in the spotlight from time to time. As a Grand Tour specialist back in his day (winner of the Tour de France in 1980, second placed on six different editions; winner of the Vuelta a España in 1979) he shares his opinion on Tadej Pogacar who is often being compared to riders of his generation.
He is asked by Wielerflits if he still keeps up with cycling actively, the 77-year old provides a positive response: “The great races for sure. And the races that I have ridden myself, such as the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix and Milano - Sanremo. I have never ridden the Giro d'Italia myself, but I am following it now. It's not like I sit in front of the television all day, but I do watch the final. I will sit down for the last 25 kilometers.”
On the big screen over the past weeks has been the Giro d'Italia and alongside it, the undeniable figure of Tadej Pogacar who has taken the world of cycling by storm over the past few years with Grand Tour and monument wins, constant dominance but also a popularity that may not be seen since the days of Peter Sagan last decade.
“Can he be compared to riders from my time such as Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault? I haven't thought about that yet. There are now riders who are a bit better than others," Zoetemelk answers. But he does think there is a basis for that argument: "He is more complete. He can ride a good time-trial and he rides uphill like the best. That's nice, but he can also sprint well if he wants to.”
Zoetemelk is present at the Veenendaal-Veenendaal Classic this Saturday, close to home where he should see a group of strong sprinters fight for the win. He won this race back in 1985 days before his World Championships win; which has made this event a sort of talisman for the former pro rider.
“It was a race that usually ended in a sprint, but that year we had a strong team. In the end I was able to get away, on my own. I finished the last 25 kilometers solo and that's how I crossed the line. For me that was a very good test for the World Championships in Italy. I have been coming back to this competition for 20 years now. I like coming here," he recalls.
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