Eddy Merckx on Tadej Pogacar: "You could say that he has nothing to win in Roubaix. But I can imagine that he wants that for himself"

Eddy Merckx has found in Tadej Pogacar an almost modern version of himself - at least results wise - and the development of the current World Champion has been nothing but a treat for cycling fans. In the space of just over two weeks he will race Paris-Roubaix for the first time, and this brings excitement to the cycling community who are eager to see what he will be capable of doing.

"That collision during training, that was a serious blow," Merckx said in an interview with Wielerevue regarding Remco Evenepoel, who is set to return to racing in the next few weeks at the Brabantse Pijl and is currently training. But only a few days prior, we will have Tadej Pogacar's debut at Paris-Roubaix, which the 'Cannibal' comments on: "You could say that he has nothing to win in Roubaix. But I can imagine that he wants that for himself."

"I also had nothing to win in 1972 when I attacked the hour record. But I did it anyway. I would not have considered my career complete without it. I have never understood why Bernard Hinault, for example, did not try,"

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"It makes me sick sometimes" - Belgian legend believes hype surrounding Tadej Pogacar's Paris-Roubaix start highlights everything wrong with modern cycling

This generation has witnessed the growth of tremendous riders such as Mathieu van der Poel who is set to be the main favourite for Flanders and Roubaix alongside Tadej Pogacar, but also Remco Evenepoel who has had several large obstacles in his short career but has already achieved so much. Axel Merckx is quick to praise his compatriot: "In terms of pure talent, Remco is perhaps the best together with Pogacar. Pogacar is better as a climber, Remco as a time trialist."

Eddy Merckx however believes that despite Evenepoel's level, there are two men above all the rest in cycling at the moment: "Pogacar is more complete, but the engine of those two is the same. The class is oozing out of him. Pogacar and Van der Poel are certainly the best riders at the moment. It's just a shame that there isn't sometimes a bit more opposition."

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