“What Pogacar does is Merckx-like, but I hope Remco can one day win the Tour de France” – Real Madrid icon Thibaut Courtois gives nod of approval to Evenepoel

When elite athletes speak outside their own sport, the words can sometimes feel throwaway. Thibaut Courtois’ comments on cycling do not fall into that category.

Reflecting on his sporting highlights of 2025, the Real Madrid and Belgium goalkeeper singled out the dominance of Tadej Pogacar while simultaneously voicing clear support for Remco Evenepoel’s long-held Tour de France ambition.

Courtois’ assessment carried weight not only because of his status at the top of world football, but because it mirrored a growing consensus inside the cycling peloton itself.

“What Pogacar does is Merckx-like,” Courtois said in quotes collected by Sporza. “He is really on a completely different level. Wherever he starts, he is immediately a top favourite to win. Even in the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. Incredible.”

Courtois did not attempt to downplay his admiration for Pogacar’s range or consistency. Instead, he framed the Slovenian’s current level as something that transcends normal comparison, reserving particular praise for his ability to arrive at vastly different races as an immediate favourite.

At the same time, the former Chelsea goalkeeper made clear that his praise for Pogacar does not come at the expense of belief in Evenepoel. As a compatriot, Courtois openly acknowledged his loyalty to Belgian riders, but his comments stopped short of sentimentality.

“I stay loyal to the Belgians like Remco,” he said, before adding a note of realism that underlined the scale of the challenge ahead.

Courtois expressed hope rather than expectation when it came to Evenepoel’s biggest career goal. “I hope that Remco can one day fulfil his big dream by winning the Tour,” he said. “It just will not be easy as long as Pogacar is riding.”

That final line cuts to the heart of the current Grand Tour landscape. Evenepoel’s talent and ambition are not questioned, but the era he is riding in is defined by a rival operating at a level that even athletes from outside cycling now describe as historic.

For Courtois, the balance was clear. Pogacar’s dominance deserves recognition, but belief in Evenepoel’s long-term Tour project remains intact, even if the path to yellow is obstructed by one of the most complete riders the sport has seen.