Eddy Merckx on Tadej Pogacar: "It is possible to win both Grand Tours"

Cycling legent Eddy Merckx is quite fond of Tadej Pogacar and does not underestimate his abilities. As the Slovenian starts the Giro d'Italia, Merckx believes that the Slovenian can win both Grand Tours this year.

"He raced a little less in the spring to get a fresh start. This way it seems that he will never have to go 'in reserve' in the Tour. It is possible to win both Grand Tours," Merckx said in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport. "But I don't know what will happen between now and July 21st. For example, will Vingegaard participate in the Tour or not? Tadej is great. That's even an understatement. But he is not unbeatable.”

What is to happen at the Tour is an unknown, but at the Giro the riders are already on the road. It is understood that the UAE Team Emirates rider is the main favourite by a long shot, but faces 21 days of racing on treacherous roads, unstable weather and brutal mountain stages.

Merckx underwent an intestinal surgery recently, and admits that it became quite a meaningful problem: “I was really scared. Things are already going a little better. I'm trying to recover slowly. The weather is bad here in Belgium, so it's not really inviting to go outside. But this way I can follow the Giro on television, of course.”