Many have tried in every way, but Until now Merckx had never imagined he could share the crown with another. Never give it up. The one with Lance Armstrong was a friendship, having seen the American grow up alongside his son Axel e certainly in the Texan's excessive power, the great Belgian could have seen his own arrogance of certain days. Yet after the beginning, it was clear that in any case and even without the misdeeds that have swept away his career, it would have been a limited domain Tour de France and little else.
Remco will be done
Thus they tried with Evenepoel, doing it too insistently and moreover behind Remco, who has not never had any interest in waking up the sleeping lionBut in Belgium cycling is a religion and the worst thing at a certain point is the fundamentalism of certain positionsMerckx, in fact, didn't take it well. Being an old-school champion, brash on the bike but respectful the rest of the time, he felt compelled to respond.
«He will have to improve on many terrains – he said after the Giro d'Italia – he has won great classics like San Sebastian, but he still has a lot to learn. Reading certain interviews, it almost seems like he feels he has arrived., but he still has to eat a lot of sandwiches. He went to the Giro d'Italia and maybe he underestimated itThere's nothing wrong, he understands it now: Before you can run, you have to learn to walkLefevere was right: miracles aren't performed. For me in 1967 it was a shockI had run the Paris-Nice and the Midi Libre twice, but in the third week of the Giro I faded, despite having won on the Blockhaus and a bunch sprint. On the other hand, I really like Van der Poel. In my opinion, he could become a Giro rider in the future.».
Evenepoel, being the intelligent boy he is, did not even try to argue. «Eddy Merckx – he simply said, bowing – has the right to put anyone in his place, given his track record».
A smile for Cavendish
This time… the attack is on two fronts. On one side there is Cavendish, who could break the record for stages won at the Tour today. And then there's Pogacar At 22, he won Liège and his second Tour, and wherever he goes, he aims for victory. The Slovenian has never made any proclamations, keeping his distance from the Belgian majesty. And perhaps for this very reason, Eddy has begun to look at him differently.
«I haven't seen Cavendish for a long time – he said – but I remember that in his early days at Quick Step, during the criteriums he sometimes slept at my house with some other riders. He was the only one who cleaned his roomWe don't know much about his character, but what remains in my memory is his great kindness. As for the record, I must say that I sleep peacefully and have no nightmares. That number has never been an obsession, cycling follows its own pathIt's all normal and even fun. What he did is wonderful, his comeback. If he can, he should still have fun. But our victories certainly can't be compared. He may be the greatest sprinter of all time, but mine were achieved differently; there's no point even arguing about it. I did 2.800 kilometers at the head of the group, he did six».
The hug to Pogacar
The jab, delivered with a smile, introduces the discussion on Pogacar and this time Merckx is less clear, perhaps because he recognized a vaguely similar look and respectful manner that suits him. And then he also rides on a Colnago.
«I see him as the new cannibal – said Eddy – if nothing happens to him he will certainly be able to win more than five Tours».
The yellow jersey, which he found himself with the great Belgian on the podium in Libourne, he gladly accepted the compliment and then took a step back.
«It's an honour – he said – to be on the same podium as Eddy Merckx. He's a cycling hero. I don't feel like a hero., but I hope to encourage many children to ride bicycles."
If Eddy had been on the podium in yesterday's time trial, however, perhaps he would have let slip a joke. He would have done anything to win it. Like in 1969, when, like Pogacar, he won all three jerseys, but took home six stages and edged Pingeon by 18 minutes and Poulidor by 22. His admission, however, is almost an investiture.
