Thijs Zonneveld favors Tadej Pogacar for Tour victory: "Of the six alien riders, Pogacar has by far the largest margin compared to the competition"

There are six riders (often nicknamed 'The Aliens') who are a cut above the rest in the cycling world. But even among them, cycling journalist and gravel racer Thijs Zonneveld notices differences between them.

Zonneveld tells WielerRevue that the Giro d'Italia champion Tadej Pogacar is shoulders above the rest. "A lot can still happen in the Tour, but I think we have to be honest. If you look at how Pogacar rode this spring... In Strade Biache he rode a solo from very, very far in which he kind of beat everyone at four or five minutes at his own pace."

The statistics are often only a formality, but it's hard to overlook Pogacar's 14 victories in just 31 racedays this year. No other rider comes close to this exploit. "It seems as if he is even better this season. And his basic level is even higher. Of the six alien riders, Pogacar has by far the largest margin compared to the competition."

He compares the Slovenian to Mathieu van der Poel, who rode himself into shape for the World Championships at last year's Tour while during the race he didn't show much of his racing art outside couple leadouts for Jasper Philipsen.

"Van der Poel made a nice sprint a few times, but otherwise, well, he was just bad. Human. Van Aert also shows human traits. Sometimes he gets into trouble; then Van der Poel When he drove away in the E3, he was then taken back by the pursuers. Evenepoel in the Dauphiné who let go when there were still fifteen men. "That's human.

At Pogacar it is different. "If you look at his results... I think there was one San Sebastian after the Tour that he didn't finish, and that was about it. I can't remember where he really failed. Maybe the Col de Loze in the Tour last year, after three weeks of bashing from Jumbo-Visma."