He continues: "Pogacar apparently doesn't have that limitation: he rides up four minutes faster than anyone in history has ever done". Pogacar rode up Plateau de Beille 3:44 minutes faster than Marco Pantani in 1998; but van Gelder's accusation is literally based on a wrong fact, since the Slovenian only climbed 1:08 minutes faster than rival Jonas Vingegaard. Van Gelder believes that eventually his victory will be removed, as has happened in the early 2000's with plenty riders. "It might be possible with body-own substances or whatever. But things happen... in a few years you'll hear who actually won."
His words brought the attention of the cycling world and Dutch journalist Thijs Zonneveld promptly
responded: "Ah, Jack van Gelder is now also a medical specialist who knows exactly the limits of the human body. Maybe next time he can explain how it is possible that footballers run twice as many kilometres as in the 1970s. Or why they sprint so much faster than ten years ago. It's not about what you believe, it's not a religion. You have to prove, substantiate and investigate before you shout these kinds of things."