Tadej Pogačar portrays a likeable side of cycling cannibalism but should he share the scraps?
The rider's former sports director, Allan Peiper, on dominance, popularity and Armstrong
Five mountain stage wins, the maillot jaune to add to a maglia rosa, and absolutely no margin for gifts in this year’s Tour de France - Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) has been unstoppable and uncompromising dreadnought in this year’s race and on stage 20 the Slovenian once more put his rivals to the sword with another victorious display.
We are witnessing one of the most astonishing Tour de France performances of all time but one key question facing the 25-year-old is whether he’s too hellbent on success and has forgotten that there’s more at play than just reaching Nice with the highest tally of stage wins to sit alongside his GC triumph.
The UAE Team Emirates rider has earned comparisons with Eddy Merckx, the original cannibal and an athlete perceived by many as the greatest male rider of all time, but although Pogačar has been praised in most quarters, he’s also drawn ire and negativity from others. Even Lance Armstrong has weighed in on the matter, with the banned former Tour winner suggesting in no uncertain terms that the new Tour king should cool his jets and consider the political nature that swirls within and around the Tour bubble.