– If this persists in the next few years as well, it could kill interest in cycling, says news’s cycling expert, Sondre Sørtveit. Last Saturday, he showed it again. In the last big cycling classic of the year, Il Lombardia, Pogacar cycled the last 48 kilometers all by himself. Two-time Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel didn’t even make an attempt to keep up as Pogacar went. – It’s absolutely crazy. It’s the world’s best cyclist, who makes everyone else look like rounding benders. I am completely speechless. And it’s a bit strange to say, because we’ve known this was going to happen all day, said Max commentator Theis Magelssen. Pogacar eventually won by three minutes and 16 seconds to Evenepoel, the biggest margin of victory in the race since 1971. Pogacar’s incredible season March 2: Strade Bianche – win March 16: Milan – Sanremo – third 18-24. March: Volta a Catalunya – overall victory and four stage victories April 21: Liège-Bastogne-Liège – victory 4-26. May: Giro d’Italia – overall victory and six stage victories June 29 to July 21: Tour de France – overall victory and six stage victories September 13: Grand Prix Québec – seventh place September 15: Grand Prix Montréal – victory September 29: WC , joint start – victory October 5: Giro dell’Emilia – victory October 8: Tre Valli Varesine – canceled October 12: Il Lombardia – victory – We became extras Carl Fredrik Hagen got to know for himself how good Pogacar is during the Giro dell’ Emilia last week. Pogacar was completely superb there as well, and won after a solo attack of just under four miles. It was then only a week after Pogacar won the WC, having attacked from the other favorites with just over 100 kilometers from the finish and was solo for the last five miles. – The rest of us became extras, even though I drove some of the best watt values I’ve done in that type of race, says Hagen about what he himself delivered in the Giro dell’Emilia. PRO CYCLING: Carl Fredrik Hagen got to know the strength of Tadej Pogacar last week. Photo: NTB – Dominance is boring At the same time that Pogacar has had an absolutely insane season, with 25 victories in just 58 riding days, it has also become a regular occurrence with long solo triumphs. It already started this spring, when he won the Strade Bianche after an 82-kilometre solo attack. – We are not used to some riders dominating to such a large extent in that way in varied bicycle races. It would probably have been a bit boring for the entertainment value, if he continues to be so much better than the others, says Sørtveit. – You can’t blame Pogacar because he’s just better than the others, but you can’t pretend it’s fun to watch a race where you know who’s going to win before the race starts, content producer Benji Naesen wrote on X after Saturday’s attack . – It is understandable that people back home are starting to get full, said Magelssen shortly before the finish line, and continued: – It is boring to watch this in the long run. We have to say that. But this is how it is in all sports, every time there is a dominant athlete. Dominance is boring when it’s going on. A battle for second place In the interviews before the start, several of Pogacar’s competitors were clear that it was largely a race for second place. Carl Fredrik Hagen just had time to sit down on the sofa when he saw the attack by Pogacar in Saturday’s race. And then thought “this is exactly what I had imagined”. – So far, I don’t think it’s destructive. I think a lot of people think “wow” and that it’s extremely cool to look at. That you get carried away by his offensiveness, says Hagen. BIG SEASON: Tadej Pogacar has gone from win to win this season. Here after he won the Tour de France for the third time in his career. Photo: AFP GIRO JUBILEE: Pogacar also won the Giro d’Italia for the first time in his career. Photo: AP SOLOSHOW: There were also cheers at the WC for Pogacar, who was carried on a golden chair after cycling to gold for Slovenia. Photo: AFP news’s cycling expert is also primarily excited. – It is a rider who makes a show. It is fascinating that this year we have witnessed one of the best cycling seasons ever. It can take many years for that to happen again and then it can become boring if it persists over time. – But you don’t think it’s boring yet? – No, maybe not. Not quite yet. For example, the show he made in the WC … Everyone knew he would go early, but then he managed to go even earlier. But if it just continues like this, it will get boring. Tadej Pogacar Born: September 21, 1998 From: Slovenia Featured credits: Tour de France: Three overall wins (2020, 2021 and 2024) and a total of 17 stage wins (2020-2024) Giro d’Italia: One overall win (2024) and six stage wins Four victories in Il Lombardia (2021-2024) Two victories in Liège-Bastogne-Liège (2021 and 2024) One victory in the Tour of Flanders (2023) One World Cup gold, joint start (2024) Vuelta a España: Three stage victories and one third place overall ( 2019) The team-mate: – In a class of his own, Vegard Stake Laengen was part of Pogacar’s victory in the Giro d’Italia earlier this year. – Can he become so supreme and dominant that it almost becomes a bit boring? – It could be. But I also feel the others are very strong, such as Remco Evenepoel. He has won a lot this year too. Then you also have Jonas Vingegaard, but who had a season marked by injuries after the fall in the Basque Country, he says, and continues: – He will probably have to watch out for the next few years, but as things have turned out now, he is in a completely different class. TEAMMATES: Pogacar and Stake Laengen could cheer together during the Giro d’Italia. Photo: AFP The same is also pointed out by Pogacar’s former teammate, Alexander Kristoff. – Now he is so superb in the biggest races that it might spoil the excitement a little in the races. But such things turn quickly. Suddenly there is an injury or illness, and then things can turn around again, he says to news. – The best season of all time Regardless, the tribute to Pogacar’s season is unison. – In modern cycling history, it must be the best season ever, says Hagen. – In all the years I’ve been doing it, I’ve never seen anything like it from the same rider. He gapes over a lot and manages to win most of it, says Stake Laengen. The organizer asked Pogacar if he understands where he now stands in cycling history, after the incredible season. The answer came quickly from the 26-year-old. – Let’s see where we are after the career. The Belgian cyclist Eli Iserbyt was furious to say the least after a rollover during the Exact Cross in Beringen. He stamped the wheel of another cyclist and was dished out. Published 12.10.2024, at 20.55 Updated 12.10.2024, at 22.33
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