Tour de France - Sacrifices of the "Age of Armstrong"? Pogacar and the Doubts
Tadej Pogacar was well prepared. Eventually, the question about credibility is traditionally one of the last duties a Tour de France winner has to deal with. So, the three-time champion set off - more determined than in the past. "It's not worth taking anything that risks my health. It's just stupid", said Pogacar.
No Doping Indications
Cleverness is not necessarily a factor when it comes to doping. Lance Armstrong maintained his image as extremely clever for years and eventually collapsed under the weight of evidence. The seven-time Tour winner is mentioned by Pogacar when it comes to doubters. "I understand the people. There will always be questions because they don't forget the Armstrong era", said the 26-year-old.
A fact is: So far, there are no doping indications against Pogacar, even though a bitter man like Mauro Gianetti, in his UAE team, has spoken up. Gianetti was once in charge of the scandal-ridden Saunier-Duval team, but always maintained his innocence.
And yet, questions are the logical consequence of Pogacar's performances, which have pulverized the best times in the mountains during the era of unbridled doping in the peloton. And as the first rider after the doped Marco Pantani to win both the Giro d'Italia and the Tour in one year, Pogacar now holds this record.
Envy through Success
Comparisons are always a tricky thing. Wind direction and pre-race load can make a significant difference. Nevertheless, critical voices are growing louder that this could not have been achieved with better equipment, better nutrition, and better training. The charming scamp Pogacar doesn't care. "I don't care", said the Slovenian. "I know who I am and I know that there will always be doubts."
Instead, Pogacar turns the tables. This envy, these doubts, he sees it all as a consequence of his success. The competition seems to have found a way to deal with their resentment that a prodigious talent has emerged in their generation.
"To say he's a level above everyone else is an understatement", said Romain Bardet. The Frenchman was once seen as the hope of the Grande Nation. On Sunday, he contested his last Tour, his best result being second place in 2016.
Showman Pogacar
The superiority and above all the insatiability - Pogacar won six of the 21 Tour stages this year - inevitably lead to Eddy Merckx. The Cannibal, the Greatest in Cycling - until Pogacar came. At 25 years and ten months, Pogacar is a three-time Tour winner, Merckx achieved this first with 26 years and a month. It's only a matter of time before the man from Komenda equals Merckx's five Grand Tour victories.
Pogacar himself dislikes the comparisons. And five-time Tour winner Bernard Hinault, France's greatest cyclist, sees little point in it. "We can't do that. He will go down in history as one of the greats", said the 69-year-old about Pogacar.
Merckx came across as shy, withdrawn, rarely showing emotions. Sometimes it seemed as if he was bored all day long. Pogacar is the opposite extreme. He enjoys the show, the jokes, and wears his lightness almost provocatively. He is very popular in the peloton.
World Championship Title in Focus
Some Merckx brands are unreachable for Pogacar. The 51 victories at the five so-called Monuments of Cycling are hardly achievable in today's extreme specialization. Pogacar prefers to focus on winning each of these significant races at least once, which would be an enormous achievement. He is still missing Milan-Sanremo and Paris-Roubaix. He has already conquered the Flanders-Rundfahrt, Lüttich-Bastogne-Lüttich, and the Lombardei-Rundfahrt.
Pogacar's greatest goal is the Rainbow Jersey. "I would like to win the World Championships," he said. In September, he had the chance to do so in Zurich. The challenging course would suit him. The Vuelta, the third major tour, is also supposed to be it. But not this year, that would be too much for him.
Pogacar acknowledges the influence of the Armstrong era, expressing understanding towards doubters due to the past scrutiny. Despite no doping indications against him, Pogacar's record-breaking performances in the era of doping have fueled such questions. Echoing these sentiments, Romain Bardet, a former Tour de France contender, mentions Pogacar being on a level above others.
Pogacar's success has led to comparisons with cycling greats like Eddy Merckx, often referred to as the 'Cannibal'. Merckx, known for his shyness and emotional detachment, is contrasted with Pogacar's popularity and enthusiasm for the show. However, Pogacar refuses to entertain comparisons with Merckx, choosing instead to focus on achieving victories in major cycling races.
In pursuit of further achievements, Pogacar seeks to win the World Championships, a goal that would solidify his place among cycling's greats. The challenging course in Zurich, where the World Championships were held in September, would have suited him well, yet he opted to focus on other goals for the time being.
