Tadej Pogacar the new Eddy Merckx? Not according to Remco Evenepoel: “Merckx also won his time trials”
Cycling
Remco Evenepoel may be gearing up for his final race in the colours of Soudal - Quick-Step, but that didn’t stop him from offering a playful — and pointed — comparison between two of cycling’s modern and historical giants on the eve of Il Lombardia 2025.
Asked in his pre-race press conference whether Tadej Pogacar is currently riding like Eddy Merckx once did, the Belgian smiled before delivering his line: “Merckx also won his time trials,” Evenepoel quipped with a smirk, in quotes collected by HLN.
The 2022 Vuelta a Espana winner was quick to make clear that his remark was made in good humour rather than as criticism. “He’s a special rider, and the way he’s ticking off all these boxes is simply incredible,” Evenepoel added. “He’s the best rider of the last few decades and the only one to come close to what Merckx once did. For me, that’s motivating — I want to reach that level too, but of course, that’s not easy.”
“Of course it’s possible to beat Pogacar”
Pogacar, a four-time winner of the ‘Race of the Falling Leaves’, will start as the overwhelming favourite in Saturday’s 2025 edition, particularly on the Como–Bergamo route where he has previously sealed victory with a trademark attack on the Passo di Ganda.
Evenepoel, however, isn’t waving the white flag. “Of course it’s possible to beat Pogacar tomorrow. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here,” he said. “It’s a tough race, but there’s also a long flat section towards the finish. We’ll see how it plays out. I still feel really good. It will be important not to waste too much energy early on. It’s definitely a finale where you can’t give up. But obviously, it’s no secret that the UAE team is flying again.”
The 25-year-old is expecting another decisive move from the Slovenian on the final climb. “In recent editions of this route, he’s always attacked on the Passo di Ganda. We can more or less anticipate where he’ll make his move, but it will also depend on how the race unfolds beforehand.”
Final race in Quick-Step colours
Il Lombardia also marks the end of an era for Evenepoel, who will line up for the last time in Soudal - Quick-Step blue before moving on to pastures new in 2026. “I haven’t prepared a speech for my farewell,” he admitted. “I’ll need to thank everyone, but not everyone from the team is here. I’ll probably just send a message in the group chat. We’ll see how everything goes tomorrow.”
Reflecting on his journey with the team, Evenepoel pointed to his 2022 Vuelta a Espana triumph as his defining memory. “That was unexpected and very special — our first overall win in a Grand Tour. To take it with just five riders left in Madrid is something I’ll never forget.”
“I want to give the team one last gift”
Five years on from his high-speed crash at Lombardia in 2020, the race now carries a different emotional weight. “I don’t really think about the crash anymore. It’s been five years,” he said. “Tomorrow is mainly about my final race for the team, and that motivates me to give everything one last time. I want to give the team one final gift.”
Evenepoel arrives in northern Italy in strong form, having shown consistent performances in recent weeks. “I feel that I’ve been riding at a high level,” he said. “It’s hard to compare with Tadej, of course — he looked incredible at the Worlds and Europeans. But I’m happy with my own form. Tomorrow I’ll give everything to get as close to the win as possible.”
The curtain will soon fall on his time at Soudal - Quick-Step, but one thing is clear: Evenepoel doesn’t plan on making his exit quietly.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
claps 7visitors 4
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- He should have been allowed to go to Movistar. Right now both arent a good fit for each other and are just wasting each other's time and effortabstractengineer08-11-2026
- Thibau Nys does exactly what Iserbyt is calling for
Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026 - i did not see it. was the relegation justified or an overly hard decision? and don‘t cross riders deviate from straight lines all the time? bumping into each others when they cut corners, etc … why being more strict with the rules on the finish sprint?Ketterechts08-11-2026
- seems like we are advertising the website with pointless comments…Ketterechts08-11-2026
- So?Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- The UCI do have their favorites.
Front24208-11-2026 - On a positive note, you maybe notice turning this topic into a discussion has the benefit of eliminating certain participants who do not see how they can turn it back to their sole interest ;-)Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- People see what they want to. I am actually the opposite of your accusation, probably more of a rebel than most of you who don’t get the big picture. The difference is, I don’t go moaning publicly about the consequences of my transgressions, I understand the need for rules and I take my OWN responsibility when deciding to ignore or break them or doing so involuntarily. I will also not hesitate to state my case or argue vehemently when relevant, sometimes it works, sometimes it makes things worse but that’s the price to pay for principles and having character.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- That may be but that was unknown to others and nothing says that’s the whole truth. Again, don’t try to misinterpret, it is a call and technically it is correct. Besides, even if there is a valid reason, that does not disqualify the ruling or punishment as far as the rules have been developed. I don’t think they’re as far as in football where for handball there is a distinction (in some ways and specific cases) between intentional or not. And football can be just as harsh and people live with it, eg the offside rule, also judged to within tiny fractions but often wrong or ignored. It’s the nature of every collective organisation and sometimes I wonder if our rebellion against it isn’t seated in the feelings we carry from the injustices we’ve felt personally, like being flashed driving 1km/h too fast when we are explained limits are just a security measure but we are absolutely certain not to have endangered anyone with our transgression. The problem is, nobody has better solutions and no 2 people have the same interpretation of where a limit should be.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- Because for you deviated implies the other rider MUST have been made to fall and fail to finish ??? I don’t know if you ride a bike but next time someone carves you up or drives dangerously close, just hold back from those feelings of changing something, reporting or filming or even complaining. Everyone will just say, hey you’re still here undamaged, doesn’t seem like anyone did anything.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
Loading
11 Comments