Luka Mezgec: "Tadej Pogacar is the only rider who doesn't do the sport, he plays it. It's a game for him"
CyclingTuesday, 23 July 2024 at 15:00
There is no shortage of praise coming in from all corners for Tadej Pogacar after the Slovenian sensationally became the first man since 1998 to complete the Giro d'Italia - Tour de France double. One of those who knows the UAE Team Emirates leader very well, is compatriot Luka Mezgec.
In fact, Mezgec himself was one of the inspirations for Pogacar as the then Giant - Shimano rider took a stage win at the 2014 Giro d'Italia, with a young Pogacar in the crowd to watch. "That was a big story in the media," Mezgec recalls in conversation with Wielerrevue. "Tadej was there when I won, because he came to watch with the Slovenian national youth team."
Having become close with Pogacar since the now four time Grand Tour winner's emergence in the professional peloton, Mezgec has seen his compatriot to develop into one of the greatest of all time. "After the first successes he achieved as a neo-pro, I told him to enjoy it because it wouldn't always be like this. But Tadej never stopped winning and enjoying it, haha," Mezgec laughs.
"Primoz Roglic and he are both relaxed, but Tadej is more of a playboy. He is the only person in cycling who doesn't do the sport, but he plays it. It's a game for him," continues the 36-year-old, who still rides in the peloton for Team Jayco AlUla. "Another difference is that Primoz doesn't show his private as much, while Tadej is exactly the same in race as outside."
Whilst for some, Pogacar's relentlessly attacking style and desire to win as much as possible has been described as greediness, the UAE Team Emirates leader's 12 Grand Tour stage wins this year have also seen many draw comparisons between Pogacar and some of cycling's most iconic figures such as Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault.
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- He didn't have the legs to stay with the top guys in case you hadn't read that !frieders305-05-2025
- Of course the dimensions have to be checked as long as pro cycling continues to be defined by a traditional bicycle definition, otherwise you open the door to all sorts of weird vehicles, like recumbants to keep the technical side easy. Obviously there can ve a completely different procedure for the check than how it was carried out here. If all went according to how reported, the team/rider should sue the official/UCI for result manipulation, this incident shows among other things, how the door is (left) wide open to corrupting officials to disadvantage people. Would be so easy to do those checks well without stressing riders. Maybe the triathlon system would be a solution ?Mistermaumau04-05-2025
- Agreed! I had forgotten about that moment, a rare misfire by UAE.RidesHills04-05-2025
- The UCI thinks that all of these formalities make it look like they're in control of things, but incidents like this one actually make them look like bumbling, incompetent fools.
santiagobenites04-05-2025 - He's one of the nicest and most humble guys at the top of the sport. Perhaps should have won another stage race already this year but for questionable UAE tactics when Buitrago got away and stole GC.Renz04-05-2025
- Completely Stupid decision yesterday of trying to help his teammateabstractengineer04-05-2025
- What a solid season he has had so far. I wasn’t really noticing bust just checked his stats. He has done only GC races, and placed 2-2-6-1-1 in them. Every single one in the top 10, and only one off the podium? That is solid work. Would have been nice to win yesterday, of course, (a solid climbing stage) but it set him up for today’s GC win. Congrats.RidesHills04-05-2025
- When are the UCI going to get rid of these ridiculous bike checks? I can understand that they would want to check for motors, but surely it makes no sense to have a rider sit on a bike that complies to a set dimension rather than have the bike set up to suit each the riders unique biomechanical needs. What is the purpose of such a dumb process? Is it just something for the guys in blazers to do?Cyclingsbestfan04-05-2025
- Speaking of “Holland” or Denmark flat, isn’t it interesting that they can produce good climbers?Mistermaumau04-05-2025
- I believe I have a pretty good idea what they’re experimenting with. It’s something that won’t work with everyone but can work REALLY well with the right personality.Mistermaumau04-05-2025
I agree, but the simplicity of it is, Pogacar had already said he was going to do Giro and Tour at the start of the season. He didnt change his plans because of Jonas injuries. Any rider can only race whoever shows up and whatever condition they show up in.
I don’t like that all this is coming when jonas was well under the weather. He still finished a solid second. If he was 100% I don’t see it being so easy for pogacar. I’m a huge fan of both, absolute monsters. It’s great seeing them race. Pogacar is currently the best and most in form rider in the world, no doubt. I think it’ll be a lot harder for him in next years tour, look forward to it.