"They should've given Pogacar a ten-minute deficit... But even then he still wins" - Experts wonder what can be done to stop Tadej Pogacar

How do you stop Tadej Pogacar? That is the question that will be asked a lot this coming winter. Because after what was arguably the best cycling season ever, Sander Valentijn, Karsten Kroon and Jeroen Vanbelleghem discuss the performances of the Slovenian in Kop over Kop podcast.

The scariest thing is that Pogacar, despite his incredible palmares is still very young and only sky seems to be a limit to what he can achieve in years to come. "He is only 26," Kroon comes to a realization. "Suppose he continues to develop like this for years. Then the UCI will have to intervene in two years."

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The former rider also comes up with a special solution. "In Lombardy, the whole peloton was against Pogacar, they did well. But it's not enough to stop the UAE Emirates team. They should have actually blocked the road and given Pogacar a ten-minute deficit... But even then he still wins..."

According to Jeroen Vanbelleghem, nobody could have stopped Tadej Pogacar on Saturday. "Not even Remco Evenepoel in shape. He is also simply driven home by this Pogacar. Maybe he could have stayed with him longer, but win? No." Evenepoel eventually came second. Kroon has pinned his hopes on the Belgian. "He has indicated that he wants to train towards Pogacar's level this winter."

Is there any further reason to worry as a cycling fan? "In principle yes," Kroon responds, who fears that the excitement will disappear from cycling in this way. "But this supremacy will also come to an end," he is hopeful. "In the past we have often said that someone would win the Tour de France in the next ten years. But that did not happen. But for now we have to take our hats off to Pogacar. He is absolutely the best."

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