Former Tour de France winner Pedro Delgado has pulled no punches in a latest evaluation of Tadej Pogačar‘s future, saying categorically that “The reign of Pogačar shall be a dictatorship,” and that “Compared, Remco Evenepoel, for all he is actually good, looks as if he is nonetheless studying.”
A longstanding biking commentator with Spanish state tv TVE on numerous Grand Excursions and different races, Delgado’s profession led to 1994 with two Vueltas a España (1985, 1989) and the Tour de France (1988) as his crowning achievements.
Throughout a latest interview at a media occasion organised by the Sports activities Press Affiliation of the town of Valladolid (APDV), Delgado insisted that Pogačar will dominate biking for the subsequent 5 years. “He has no rival,” he added.
“Within the Pogačar dictatorship it is not possible [for rivals] to shine,” he stated, based on
a neighborhood newspaper El Diario de Valladolid.
“His bodily qualities are off the charts, and on prime of that, he likes to placed on a present and win in fashion as a result of he by no means simply settles for something much less.”
In 2024, Pogačar had his finest 12 months so far, successful the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and World Championships, in addition to two Monuments, Il Lombardia and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. With 25 victories this season, the 26-year-old was solely defeated on two events, at Milan-San Remo and within the GP Québec.
Delgado even went as far as to say it could be onerous for any up-and-coming Spanish rider to have a significant influence given the dimensions of Pogačar’s dominion. He added that Delgado himself, had been he now racing, would have been a “very regular professional.”
“When it comes to diet, it is all very rigorous and I would not have coped. Biking could be very disciplined now and actually you want just a little little bit of craziness within the combine for a rider just like the [Spanish] greats of yesteryear to look: [1973 Tour de France winner] Luis Ocaña, Jose Manuel Fuentes….
“Juan Ayuso (UAE Crew Emirates) and Carlos Rodríguez (Ineos Grenadiers) are cyclists who’re progressing. However they are not at Pogačar’s degree. Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) is actually good, however he looks as if he is nonetheless studying the ropes.
“Pogačar is an actual prodigy. I do not understand how lengthy his period will final, not due to his bodily qualities, however as a result of he is made successful a behavior.
“Issues might disintegrate, however I believe he’ll dominate the game for the subsequent 5 years.”
Delgado could properly have the chance to share his opinions with Pogačar on residence soil subsequent 12 months. The Slovenian confirmed lately {that a} return to the Vuelta a España, the place he completed third in 2019, is a potential possibility for his program in 2025.
