"Eddy Merckx says that Pogacar is better than him, but I totally disagree with that" - Roger De Vlaeminck sticks up for the old guard

Tadej Pogacar was awarded the Eddy Merckx Trophy at the 2024 Velo d'Or awards ceremony on Friday night, being named the best Classics rider of the year. The Slovenian has been no stranger to comparisons with the Belgian legend over recent months, but according to the legendary Roger De Vlaeminck, Merckx remains the greatest of all time.

De Vlaeminck, who himself is widely regarded as one of the greatest riders of all-time, still believes Pogacar has someway to go to match Merckx, despite the brilliance of the UAE Team Emirates leader's 2024 campaign.

Read also

"Maybe my name will be on the trophy someday" - Tadej Pogacar reacts to multiple awards picked up at Velo d'Or 2024

"I used to dare to say all sorts of things about it, but I don't do that anymore. I don't want to give interviews anymore after which everyone thinks I'm the bad guy. But I don't want to lie either. Eddy Merckx says that Pogacar is better than him, but I totally disagree with that," states the 77-year-old Belgian in conversation with Het Nieuwsblad.

"He (Pogacar ed.) is certainly the best rider in the world at the moment," admits De Vlaeminck, although even that comes with a critique. "I can hardly enjoy it because he is so much better than the rest. In Strade Bianche, a race of 215 kilometres, Pogacar rides almost ninety kilometres alone in front. Who is behind him? I would have liked to have ridden the Strade Bianche. Sand and riding uphill, two things I was very good at. How many times would I have won that race? With me, Merckx or Maertens, Pogacar would never have ridden 90 kilometres alone in front."

"It could be that Pogacar becomes the fourth rider ever to win the five Monuments. He only has Milano-Sanremo and Paris-Roubaix to go," adds the Belgian cycling icon. "But then you have to look at who the opponents were. Where are the Italians? The Mosers, Gimondis and Bitossis that we had to ride against? Can you name one good Italian rider at the moment?"

One of Pogacar's main challengers in the modern peloton is De Vlaeminck's compatriot, Remco Evenepoel. It's fair to say the 4-time Paris-Roubaix winner isn't completely enthused by the Soudal - Quick-Step leader though. "He is of course a very good rider. But I am still not the biggest fan of his style," he concludes. "Putting your bike in the air at the finish, that is not something I would like. I think he has the right character to be a rider. When he rides well, you can see from his face that he is enjoying what he is doing."

Read also

Michel Wuyts urges Remco Evenepoel to contact Van Aert & Roglic after latest crash disaster: "Exchanging experiences with fellow sufferers is also beneficial"