"Pogacar doesn't race to be the most beloved. He races to win" - Bernard Hinault enchanted by the Slovenian

Today 40 years will pass since the last French victory at Tour de France. The five-time Tour winner Bernard Hinault doesn't see a compatriot winning anytime soon, but that doesn't prevent him from enjoying the great performances of Tadej Pogacar who could well join the "5 Tours" club in a few years.

"He's the only one who's similar to Eddy and me," Hinault analyzes for ES. "He wins classics, Grand Tours, and still has the energy to compete at the season finale and become world champion. He's the most complete and has ambition."

The Frenchman doesn't hide that he's a big fan of the Slovenian. "I love his enthusiasm; it shows in his racing style. He enjoys winning. He has the potential to surpass Eddy and me. The rivalry with Vingegaard could give him even more motivation."

You could throw a rock to find a group of people who would find Pogacar's dominance oppressive "On the contrary, I think his attitude is pleasing. He doesn't give anything away, and he doesn't have to. Indurain was more generous, he had a different attitude, he was only interested in the Tour de France overall. But I think the public prefers competitors who always give their all."

"You can't compare eras, but his racing style shows that today's cycling isn't that different from ours. When you see him attack in the World Championships 80 or 90 kilometers from the finish line, when he takes off his earpiece, he relies solely on his feelings, he attacks when he sees his opponent in trouble, without calculations... it reminds me of my years on the bike."

It's an enigmatic style of racing. "That reaches the spectator; it transmits a competitive spirit. He will mark an era; we'll see where the limits lie." That's what ensures that Pogacar appeals to public.

"The public likes offensive cyclists, and he's one of them. He doesn't care about going down in history as a go-getter or what the rest of the peloton thinks. Pogacar doesn't race to be the most beloved. He races to win. If they have a grudge against him, he can console himself by saying he's the best. He doesn't race to be liked by his colleagues. That's how it should be; this is cycling."

Hinault has his own opinion of the people who suggest Pogacar let others win more. "It makes me laugh when people say he doesn't give anything away. Do the others give things away? Whoever can win, wins, as it should be," he concludes.