Eddy Merckx urges Pogacar to win all three Grand Tours in one year

Belgian cycling legend Eddy Merckx has urged Slovenian star Tadej Pogacar to aim for an unprecedented achievement: winning all three Grand Tours, the Giro d'Italia, Tour de France, and Vuelta a España, in a single year. Merckx, a five-time Tour de France winner himself, believes Pogacar possesses the exceptional talent to conquer this historic feat.

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Pogacar needs to set a challenge worthy of his exceptional talent: win the three Grand Tours in the same year.

"Pogacar needs to set a challenge worthy of his exceptional talent: win the three Grand Tours in the same year," Merckx stated in interviews with Belgian newspapers DH and Le Soir. He suggested that with dedicated winter preparation from his teammates, there's no reason Pogacar cannot achieve this. Merckx highlighted the current cycling calendar, which offers more spacing between races than in his era, as an advantage for Pogacar to pursue such a goal in upcoming seasons.

Nicknamed 'The Cannibal,' Merckx considers Pogacar an "insurmountable obstacle" for other riders, predicting he could win "seven or eight" Tours de France. "As long as the Slovenian is there, no one else can aspire to win the Tour. I don't see anyone who can compare with him, at this moment," Merckx observed, marveling at Pogacar's apparent ease on the bike.

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As long as the Slovenian is there, no one else can aspire to win the Tour. I don't see anyone who can compare with him, at this moment.

Merckx also offered praise for his compatriot Remco Evenepoel, who finished second in the Tour. He identified Evenepoel as "the best time trialist in the world" and noted his improved performance in high mountains. "Remco has improved in all aspects and has confirmed he is, by far, the best time trialist in the world," Merckx said, adding that Evenepoel needs more confidence and boldness to reach his full potential.

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Remco has improved in all aspects and has confirmed he is, by far, the best time trialist in the world.