The words released to the press a few days ago by Lefevere have opened a different perspective on Pogacar's sensational start to the season. In the aftermath of the Slovenian's triumph at the Tirreno-Adriatico, the patron of the Quick Step he had ruled not without a hint of sadness: «When he went pro, it was said that Remco Evenepoel was the new Merckx, but the truth is that this is Pogacar».
It is clear that making comparisons between riders from different eras is always inappropriate, but There is something that unites champions so far apart in time, especially this year that the rider of UAE Team Emirates He seems to leave nothing but crumbs to his opponents and it is precisely due to the attitude of the latter. Compared to previous years, It seems that they feel defeated from the start, who when Tadej attacks don't feel like responding (opening photo at the Tirreno-Adriatico) and already start thinking about second place.
The importance of the head
We therefore drew inspiration from these and other considerations to compare the two champions. Not to argue who is stronger, but to understand how they were and are faced. Serge Parsani shared his first years as a rider in the caravan with Merckx, running together with Felice Gimondi. Today he leads the Corratec Team after more than thirty years in the flagship, so it can make a comparison.
«They are riders with natural talent – he explains – who have that extra edge, but above all they know how to make the most of it. Pogacar's strength is not only in his legs, but in his headHe knows how to think on the fly and this allows him to take action at the right moment."
What do two experiences so far apart in time have in common?In my opinion it is the awareness of having a great team at your sideMerckx was not only extremely superior to the others, but he had a very strong team at his disposal. At least 6 riders would have been captains in every other team. This allowed him to travel under cover and safely until he decided to make a difference. Now Pogacar also has a great team behind him and the Tirreno-Adriatico it's been seen. This is a fundamental difference compared to a few years ago."
It all started with the 2020 Tour
Parsani goes into more detail: "I think the first Tour was very useful for the Slovenian," he says, "the one he won practically without a team. It helped him grow mentally. Back then he had to pull his own chestnuts out of the fire, now he has companions capable of helping him as long as needed and this gives him security.But it wouldn't be enough if he didn't have the ability to think and "read" the race at any moment."
But what is the attitude of the opponents? «There's a bit of that feeling of impotence. It was also there in Merckx's time – he admits – but I can't say that Gimondi, for example, started out defeated, he always tried to fight and in fact he took his great victories. The fact is that when Merckx attacked it was like throwing a stone into a pond where the fish were swimming in the air. He opened up the spaces behind him. He tightened the straps and we knew it would soon be over.... ".
Others don't win like this...
Is the same happening with Pogacar? "At this moment, yes," Parsani continues, "because many things are coming together: physical and mental fitness, morale, even luck. All of this gives him the confidence to attempt feats like the one in Strade BiancheThose who watched it thought it was crazy, but instead…
«The Roglic wins, but not in the same wayIn Siena, for example, Pogačar even won by a head. He knew that almost everyone in the group was now isolated, with at most one teammate, and therefore reaching an agreement for the pursuit would be difficult. It's like with Formula One: you know that Mercedes has the most powerful engine and therefore the chances of winning for the others drop considerably».
Adorni's idea
And yet… If you think about it, really Merckx's story teaches that even against him, who won from the grand classics to the circuit race, there was hope. A consideration that is part of Vittorio's reasoning. adorni, who ran with it and then drove it from the flagship.
«There were also days that he was not in condition – he says – that during a major Giro he came to us to say that his legs were sore and to ask us to help him. I remember when I met him. He joined the team after the pre-season retreat because he had got married, but I immediately saw that, Even if he didn't have our hours of preparation, he had something moreAt the Giro they put him in the room with me and I had the chance to talk to him: he had overwhelming physical strength, but he had to grow in his headEvery morning he told us "I'm attacking": we stopped him, told him to wait and While we were running he kept asking us if it was the right time. Then, when he left, he created a vacuum."
Nobody is unbeatable
The mental aspect, already underlined by Parsani, is also fundamental for Adorni in watching Pogacar's exploits.
«He has enormous physical power – he says – but Above all, you can see that he runs calmly, having funHe "feels" the race, he always perceives the situation and the condition of his opponents, and this allows him to attack when he knows something important can come of it. He knows himself well, he knows what his engine can give him."
So far, Pogacar, but what about the others? "The others are suffering because they can't understand if and when the Slovenian is going to struggle. And we must also consider that, if that happens, there's now a team that can best support him. It's also clear that Victory after victory his awareness and enthusiasm grow, while those of his opponents fade, even unconsciously.. Furthermore, this year Tadej has shown that he can win in various ways and make the difference both on the climbs and on the flat, just like Eddy did."
So is there no room to change the score? "On the contrary," Adorni replies, "as I said, Not everything always goes smoothlyTo win, everything must fit together. Now it's overwhelming, but what What will happen when he is not at his best when facing a top opponent? How will it be managed? Things can change from one race to the next, and that's the beauty of cycling."
