"Tadej Pogacar is the best rider of the year and of the century" - Chris Froome's serious praise of world champion
Cycling
Over half of all Tour de France titles have gone to either Chris Froome or Tadej Pogacar since the former's first Maillot Jaune victory back in 2013. As such, there is a great mutual respect between Pogacar and Froome despite the fact that they never shared a Grand Tour battle together.
Speaking to Marca from the end of season Tour de France Saitama Criterium in Japan, Froome gave his thoughts on the current generation of Maillot Jaune contenders, having dominated the fight for Grand Tour victories throughout the 2010s.
In particular, the duo of Pogacar and rival Jonas Vingegaard have taken over Froome's mantle in recent years, although the Brit himself can see that changing in the coming seasons. "They have had two very good years, dominating the Tour and other places. But Remco Evenepoel is also there at a great level," the four-time Tour de France winner says. "There are other things to look at. I think that, even if they win a lot, cycling is a fun sport with them. Besides, we have already seen how things can change and, whoever wins everything now, then does not do it again."
So good has Pogacar been in 2024 especially, the Slovenian has been compared to the great Eddy Merckx with some even putting the UAE Team Emirates leader as the greatest of all time. "I think that Pogacar, after winning two Grand Slams and several other things, is the best rider of the year and of the century," Froome evaluates. Compared to Merckx though? "I don't know. They are different times and I don't think it's easy to compare them. I didn't see Eddy compete. I have seen Tadej compete now and you have to admit that he's a phenomenon," answers the 39-year-old thoughtfully, clearly full of praise for Pogacar.
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- 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