"We cannot compare Tadej Pogacar to Eddy Merckx" says BORA - hansgrohe's Enrico Gasparotto

Tadej Pogacar has been drawing some very lofty comparisons with his supreme dominance of the 2024 Giro d'Italia, with many comparing his cannibalistic attitude towards the race, with that of cycling legend, Eddy Merckx.

According to BORA - hansgrohe's Enrico Gasparotto however, comparisons with Merckx are misplaced for Pogacar, despite the Slovenian leader of UAE Team Emirates' immense qualities. "Each generation has its phenomena, and Tadej Pogacar is clearly a phenomenal rider," Gasparotto explains in a video call on the second rest day of the 2024 Giro d'Italia, in quotes collected by Cyclism'Actu. "However, we cannot compare Tadej to Eddy Merckx for example because everything is different. I will never compare Pogacar to anyone else, I can just to say that it is a phenomenon."

One of those to voice the comparisons of Pogacar to the greats of yesteryear, was the legendary figure of French cycling, Bernard Hinault. "Pogacar is like Eddy Merckx and me," said the 69-year-old, five-time Maillot Jaune winner to La Gazzetta dello Sport recently. "We come from different generations, but I like his character and his temperament. Pogacar wants to win in every race. He doesn't always manage it, but that's not the point. I like his attitude."

With the Giro d'Italia at the second rest day, Pogacar is 6:41 clear of his nearest rival, Geraint Thomas in the general classification. Sitting third in the GC is Gasparotto's BORA - hansgrohe leader, Daniel Martinez. Just 15 seconds behind Thomas, Martinez has the second spot of the podium in his sights and Gasparotto is optimistic.

"Dani Martinez is doing well. In this mountainous and difficult third week, we will try to win a stage and attack Geraint Thomas and Ben O'Connor," Gasparotto previews in the same rest day video call. "These two riders have big teams, but in the end it will be a battle between the leaders."