It was such an honor for me to interview the G.O.A.T 🐐, Mr. EDDY MERCKX for THEMOVE podcast and @wedusport youtu.be/IZyAP_WeKrk?si…
“Honestly, I wouldn't have liked to race today" - Eddy Merckx doesn't enjoy more scientific nature to modern day cycling
CyclingThursday, 25 April 2024 at 10:49
Arguably the greatest cyclist of all-time, how Eddy Merckx would have fared against the stars of today is a question we'll never get a proper answer to. For the legendary Belgian himself however, racing in the more scientific structure of today's peloton would not be an appealing proposition.
“Honestly, I wouldn't have liked to race today," the now-78-year-old, five-time Tour de France winner admits in a sit-down interview with Johan Bruyneel. "Because I wouldn't have participated in all the races. I just enjoyed racing too much. If I had been told then that I was not allowed to ride a classic... No, I don't imagine myself in that world today.”
At his peak, Merckx was racing an incredible 195 days in a calendar year. Compare that to the likes of today's stars Tadej Pogacar (just 50 in 2023 ed.) and Jonas Vingegaard (68 in 2023 ed.) and it's a stark difference. “Racing is pure fun, isn't it? Yes, I liked to train too," Merckx assesses. "You just can't compare it anymore. But the young riders are so used to that now. The riders now don't really know anything else.”
On Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard, Merckx also commented on their varying styles. Whilst Pogacar stars in one-day races and is hot-favourite to claim the Maglia Rosa at the Giro d'Italia next month, Vingegaard is single-focused on the Tour de France. “The Tour de France is important, but not the only race that matters," Merckx concludes. "Jonas Vingegaard only focuses on the Tour. What he does there is very exceptional.”
claps 0visitors 2798
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- Thanks Dadmobk22-12-2024
- Hard to believe with the advancment of modern medicine he can not find a cause for this.frieders321-12-2024
- You continue to platform these two cheats. With that in mind I can no longer use your site. I know my leaving means little, but, sometimes you have to take a stand. See ya!DJ21-12-2024
- Look at what Froome’s won since his last TdF, stop denying there is still more than possible one outcome to the future.Mistermaumau21-12-2024
- Bruyneel understands nothing about clean competition.Sweep21-12-2024
- Exactly. Remco won 3 WT races/stages last year compared to Pogocar's 19. Remco's single stage win in last years TdF earned him a meager 12 seconds over Pogocar who shellac'd him by 9 minutes in GC.Sweep21-12-2024
- Fortunately and as you point out, more than one strategy is possible and worth trying and I’m sure all concerned riders are well informed and counselled on this subject and don’t need such basic personal advice through media from an outsider.Mistermaumau21-12-2024
- The main SPOTY award is "decided" by public vote but the BBC "expert panel" decide who you can choose from, that choice has an equal split of genders and is focussed on the sports BBC show and a disabled athlete. Oh yea the ubiquitous "Pub Games" candidate there too, Darts and Snooker are not sports. The other awards are decided by the "Expert Panel" again it's about the sports BBC show, cycling has had it. Cav got his for his years and achievements in the sport, not just that 35th TDF win. Unless the BBC get access to Pro Cycling it will never feature "adequately" on SPOTYslappers6621-12-2024
- Ahhh..... you have to understand the "strange" diversity concepts of the BBCslappers6621-12-2024
- Avoiding him is a good strategy, you get more wins and then you can compete in the TDF relatively relaxed. Pit yourself against Pogi and not only there will be no wins, it will be considerable mental setbackabstractengineer21-12-2024