"What he did was outrageous" - Alejandro Valverde calls Tadej Pogacar the best cyclist he's ever seen

Praise has understandably been flying in from all angles toward 2024 world champion Tadej Pogacar after his incredible display in Zurich on Sunday afternoon. Legendary Spaniard Alejandro Valverde knows what it takes to win a Rainbow Jersey, but even the 2018 world champion was left open mouthed at Pogacar's 100km attack.

"It's true that there are some very good riders now and that we're living in a great era, with four or five great cyclists, but what Tadej has done is absolutely crazy," says Valverde to EFE on Tuesday, with quotes collected by ES Ciclismo, naming Pogacar the best cyclist he's ever seen. "Wherever he goes, he is a hit, and puts on a show. We have to be happy to experience what we are experiencing with him."

Despite his unrivalled brilliance in 2024, the somewhat monotonous nature of Pogacar turning up, dominating, and then leaving with all the plaudits has led to some online criticism of the predictable nature of the sport. For Valverde though, such criticisms are completely unfounded. "I don't see him as boring," Valverde insists. "It's clear that wherever he goes, he's the favourite and if he doesn't win, he's close to it."

"Many people say he's abusing himself because he wants to win everything, but the thing is that he has to win everything while he can, because there will come a time where he won't be able to," Valverde continues, speaking from experience. "We all know who Pogacar is. What he did was outrageous. To break away 100 kilometres in a 270 kilometre race, with such demands, and to be practically a minute ahead of all the favourites is crazy. We have to congratulate him for that display!"

"Tadej has to take advantage of his good years and enjoy them because you can see how much he enjoys himself on the bike, winning and losing," Valverde concludes.