“Tadej Pogačar couldn’t lace Eddy Merckx’s shoes!” Cycling legend claims four-time Tour de France winner is overrated, brands Remco Evenepoel “arrogant”, and says Mathieu van der Poel “can’t time trial, climb, or sprint” + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Weekend round-up: Epic Euros ‘cross action, Jonas has some fun in Japan, and a former Top Gear host strikes again
I’ll be honest, the cyclocross season has passed me by so far this year (seriously, wasn’t the Tour of Lombardy on just the other day?).
So I was pleasantly surprised – and also concerned for my grasp of the passing seasons – when I flicked on the ol’ Discovery+ app and saw that the European championships was on at the weekend. And I wasn’t disappointed.
With the ‘big three’ of Van der Poel, Van Aert, and Pidcock still on their holidays, we were treated to an absolute epic in the men’s race.
Toon Aerts holds off Thibau Nys to take the European title! ? pic.twitter.com/fGJkxtxFDk
— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) November 9, 2025
In a thrilling, nail-biting five-man battle to the line, Toon Aerts – who was forced to chase back on after losing ground early on – conquered the sand and timed his move to perfection to hit the finishing straight ahead of Belgian teammate and defending champion Thibau Nys, as Joran Wyseure secured a Belgian podium clean sweep and Britain’s Cameron Mason took fifth.
It was a redemptive victory for Aerts, nine years on from his first European title, and almost two years since his comeback to the sport from his doping ban.
Meanwhile, earlier in Middelkerke (which will also host the start of the men’s Gent-Wevelgem from next year, it was announced this morning), Inge van der Heijden dominated the women’s race, leading from start to finish, as her Dutch teammates Lucinda Brand and Aniek van Alphen settled for second and third, respectively, over 40 seconds behind.
Look what it means to Inge van der Heijden as she takes the Women’s Elite European Championship! ?? Lucinda Brand and Aniek van Alphen join her on the podium to make it a Dutch clean sweep! ? pic.twitter.com/pIdtBGV2dC
— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) November 8, 2025
And, while the cyclocross season is well and truly underway, cycling’s annual tradition of fans not understanding what a post-season criterium is (despite the concept existing for over a century in the sport) continued, as the Saitama Criterium brought the curtain down, kind of, on the 2025 road campaign.
And Jonas Vingegaard delighted the Japanese fans, recovering from an early crash (classic Jonas) to ‘drop’ Primož Roglič and solo to the line, as Jonathan Milan and Kaden Groves ‘sprinted’ for second and third.
Victory sealed! ?
Jonas Vingegaard recovers from an early crash at the Saitama Criterium and launches a late attack to take the win! ? pic.twitter.com/NBzR8TuCwn
— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) November 9, 2025
Then the cycling internet spent far too many hours debating the point of it all, as usual (my pet peeve, though, is the number of people pointing to exhibition events in other sports as examples. Don’t they know cycling basically invented this kind of thing?! Give us come credit, please!).
Elsewhere in the world of cycling, away from the epic ‘cross racing and not so epic crit ‘racing’, there was plenty going on over the weekend.
Everyone’s second least favourite Top Gear host was at it again:
> Richard Hammond says it’s cyclists’ “responsibility to stay safe” on the roads
Where’s James May when you need him?
The row over Cycling UK’s 100 Women in Cycling list rumbled on:
We checked out the ‘bike that went to jail’, ahead of Sofiane Sehili’s appearance on the podcast this week:
> The bike that went to jail: Sofiane Sehili’s Bombtrack Hook EXT Ti from his Eurasian record bid
And, finally, it looks like the cycling world has gone full Willy Wonka. Better get your golden tickets, fast…
Is this the greatest cycling photo of 2025?
Now, this is what crits are all about.
Just look at Primož’s face…
Who ever said pro cyclists don’t like these post-season trips around the world?
Meanwhile, over at Herne Hill…
The European championships in Middelkerke weren’t the only place to catch some epic cyclocross racing at the weekend.
Over at the iconic Herne Hill Velodrome, Rapha’s annual Muddy Hell ‘cross event took place on Saturday evening, featuring a Halloween-themed course complete with pumpkin patch and a ‘foggy forest’ (bit late, but no matter), some full-on racing, a classic carnival-style atmosphere, and, of course, the obligatory fancy dress.
Photographer Alex Rout was on hand to capture some brilliantly spooky shots:
The Euros was exciting and all, but Toon Aerts wasn’t dressed as a giant snail, was he?
Why don’t cyclists use the cycle lane? #26,783: Because there are shop signs, lampposts, and SUVs all over it…
And, to think, this is one of the better ones:
Another bit of the West Midlands, but this isn’t high quality and I suspect won’t lead to mode shift. Why spend money on mediocre?
— Martin Price (@mrmjprice.bsky.social) November 9, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Gent-Wevelgem set to be officially renamed ‘In Flanders Fields – from Middelkerke to Wevelgem’ as new host town unveiled
As mentioned earlier, one of the Flemish cycling calendar’s biggest appointments, Gent-Wevelgem, is moving to a new start town for 2026, with the North Sea municipality of Middelkerke agreeing to host the classic for the next ten years.
However, despite the change, Ypres, which has hosted the start of the men’s and women’s editions of Gent-Wevelgem since 2020, will still form part of the race route, which continues to pay respects to the battlefields and sites of the First World War, as it has done since 2014.
Nevertheless, the organisers have said this morning that the race’s partnership with Middelkerke and start along the coast will usher in a “fresh new look” for the parcours, though the Plugstreets and the iconic Kemmelberg, key features of the race over the past decade, will remain.
Zac Williams/SWpix.com
The women’s race, meanwhile, will now start and finish in Wevelgem, the UCI’s maximum distance rules for the women’s peloton rendering a start in Middelkerke unachievable.
“The UCI sets maximum race distances for women’s events, and we are bound by those limits”, Tomas Van Den Spiegel, the CEO of organisers Flanders Classics, said this morning.
“That makes a start for the women in Middelkerke impossible. For many years, we have felt at home in Wevelgem and have built a strong, long-standing partnership with the mayor, the local council, and the local services. With the women now starting there, the town’s cycling celebration takes on an extra dimension.”
All this means that, for the first time in its 92-year history, Gent-Wevelgem will no longer be known as Gent-Wevelgem (despite the race not actually starting in Gent itself for over two decades).
Zac Williams/SWpix.com
Instead, it will now be known by the official name, ‘In Flanders Fields – from Middelkerke to Wevelgem’, reflecting those ties to the Great War and its geographical legacy in West Flanders. However, the Gent-Wevelgem name will still be knocking around, the organisers have insisted, thanks to its history – and the fact that cycling fans are stubborn old traditionalists, after all.
“We are particularly pleased to announce the start of a long-term partnership here today. Sustainable partnerships are something we are very eager to invest in,” Van Den Spiegel said.
“The big change, a ten-year contract and a shared commitment have prompted us to give the race a new official name In Flanders Fields – from Middelkerke to Wevelgem.
“Naturally, Gent-Wevelgem will still be mentioned given its history, but in this way, we further highlight the unique DNA of this race. And so, a new chapter and one we are enthusiastically looking forward to.”
> I’ll still be calling it the Dauphiné… Do pro cycling’s rebrands ever work?
Van Den Spiegel continued: “Work on how the final course will look is still very much ongoing. One thing is certain: the Great War will always remain deeply intertwined with this race. The aim is also to keep the passage through the centre of Ypres in the final part of the race.
“This race is steeped in world history, giving it a truly unmatched identity in the world of cycling. That is something we will keep building on.”
What do you reckon, can Tadej Pogačar add In Flanders Fields – from Middelkerke to Wevelgem to his palmares as he builds towards another Tour of Flanders defence? And what about another tilt at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes before the Tour?
I’ll stick with Gent-Wevelgem and the Dauphiné, thanks very much…
“Off-season’s been good to me”: Pidcock on safari
I don’t know, I reckon racing flat out for an hour in a freezing Belgian field sounds like a much better proposition.
Or maybe not…
Competition Klaxon! And this week, we’ve got a set of Scribe carbon wheels to give away to one lucky reader…
Fancy a new pair of wheels for next summer? Well, get entering then…
> Win! A Scribe BEST Sport Carbon Wheelset of your choice worth £749!
From Paris-Roubaix to Ironman: Greg Van Avermaet secures first ever career world title… at Ironman world championships (with a little help from training buddy Mathieu van der Poel)
Greg Van Avermaet is really enjoying this retirement business, isn’t he?
The 2016 Olympic road race champion, who retired from professional cycling at the end of 2023, has enjoyed a successful debut year on the gravel bike, taking a few top tens at big races, including fifth at the UCI Gravel World Series event in the Forest of Brabant a few weeks ago.
And now, after going for a few runs, bikes, and swims with Mathieu van der Poel, the 40-year-old has now turned his focus to infiltrating the world of Ironman triathlons this winter.
MVDP and GVA go for a swim… And you thought Van der Poel was already multi-talented (Greg Van Avermaet, Strava)
That move, and those training sessions with MVDP (does a triathlon career await the big Dutchman, too?), paid off spectacularly on Sunday, as Van Avermaet won his age category at the Ironman 70.3 world championships in Marbella – his first world title in any discipline, after cycling’s rainbow jersey eluded him on so many occasions.
In the 40-44 age group, the former BMC star – who followed up his Olympic success in Rio with victories at Paris-Roubaix and Gent-Wevelgem in 2017 – completing the 1.9km swim, 90km cycle, and half marathon in four hours, 15 minutes, and 56 seconds.
After a solid swim (31.02), Van Avermaet demonstrated why he was one of the best bike racers on the planet for a decade, finishing the tough 90km route in 2.16:10, the fastest bike split in his age group and only a few minutes off the top pro climbs.
That blistering bike leg set the two-time Tour de France stage winner up for a strong half marathon time of 1.21:31, meaning he finished almost five minutes clear of second place, which went to German Wolfgang Teuchner, as fellow Belgian Ben De Wolf claimed third, six and a half minutes down.
Fair play, Greg. Now, go enjoy your winter.
Meanwhile, in the men’s pro race, Belgium’s successful day out in Marbella continued, as Jelle Geens beat Kristian Blummenfelt (you know, the guy who said he was targeting the Tour de France) with a time of 3.42:52.
Mark Cavendish’s old teammate Bernie Eisel joins Lidl-Trek as sports director after four years with Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe
It’s all change at Lidl-Trek at the moment. At the end of October, after nabbing wantaway grand tour contender Juan Ayuso from UAE Team Emirates, it was announced that supermarket giant Lidl has taken over as the squad’s majority stakeholder for 2026.
That means the formerly American team will now operate under a German licence, though Trek remains the outfit’s co-owner and technical partner.
And now, Bernie Eisel has joined the Lidl revolution, taking on the role of sports director after four years in a similar position at Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe. As a rider, Eisel was one of the most respected road captains in the peloton and played a key role in many of Mark Cavendish’s successes at the Tour de France with HTC-Columbia, Team Sky, and Dimension Data.
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The Austrian, who retired in 2019 before entering the team car with Bora, was also capable of winning big in his own right, winning the 2010 Gent-Wevelgem, as well as two stages of the Tour de Suisse.
“I was attracted to Lidl-Trek because of what the team has achieved in the past few years and the progress it continues to make,” Eisel said in a statement announcing his switch to Lidl-Trek, where he will strengthen the team’s DS department.
“It’s attracting a lot of young talent and has excellent sprint groups. From my time as a commentator, watching Milan sprinting or watching Mads Pedersen ‘doing a Mads Pedersen’ are some of the best things you can watch in modern cycling. These are the small details that really convinced me.
“I have a lot of friends already in the team, people I’ve worked with before, and riders I know from my time as both a teammate and a DS. It was a no-brainer. The biggest reason was to join Lidl-Trek was to work again with Luca [Guercilena, the squad’s general manager]. He was my first professional coach when I joined Mapei in 2001, so we go back a long, long time.
“I’m a bit nervous, I have to admit, but also curious for this new chapter in my life. At the same time, I’m very motivated to continue this progress and be part of the Lidl-Trek family.
“Firstly, I want to understand how the team works and get to know the people I don’t already know, to build a strong group together, which is, I think, the key reason Lidl-Trek has been so successful. I hope I can contribute to that and help us keep moving up the ladder.”
“I gave them sufficient room, given that I also had to allow for oncoming vehicles to pass. I was well over the centre line”
A new entry for the ‘Best Wilhelm Scream’ award, as road.cc reader Hirsute noted in his email to us – and completely warranted, too.
This one’s a shocker, while the bus driver’s defence is a textbook example of the kind of victim blaming culture we’re well used to in the UK.
But hey, at least the driver was banned for… errr, 56 days:
> Near Miss of the Day 940: “Do you always scream when a bus passes you?” Bus driver banned for terrifying close pass, after defence team blames cyclist for riding in “middle of the lane” and not moving to “allow driver to pass”
Is Premier Tech set to swap Israel for Ineos? Ineos Grenadiers among several squads reportedly speaking to Premier Tech about potential sponsorship deal, after Canadian company stepped away from Israeli cycling team last week
On Friday evening – just around clocking off time for most UK and European journalists – Premier Tech announced that it is stepping down as title sponsor of the Israel-Premier Tech team, claiming that the “core reason to sponsor the team has been overshadowed to a point where it has become untenable for us to continue”.
The Canada-based manufacturing company Premier Tech has been a title sponsor of the Israeli cycling team since 2022 but had joined bike partner Factor in urging the team to drop ‘Israel’ from its name following an end-of-season dominated by protests and exclusions for races.
But despite the team announcing last month that it will change its name and drop ‘Israel’ from all branding ahead of the 2026 season, Premier Tech confirmed on Friday that it is walking away from its sponsorship of the team with immediate effect, a decision which came following “multiple discussions” and “careful assessment of all relevant circumstances”.
Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com
And, considering the perilous financial state of professional cycling at the moment (beyond the moneybags teams at the very top), it’s no surprise that Premier Tech is already being courted by several squads in dire need of some investment.
In fact, Premier Tech could be back in the peloton by January, with a number of squads, from both the men’s and women’s sides of the sport, clamouring to secure a partnership with the Canadian company.
According to Daniel Benson, sources indicated on Saturday that Alpecin-Deceuninck had already secured a deal with Premier Tech for 2026, though this was denied by both parties.
Nevertheless, despite the lack of Canadian links within the squad (Premier Tech acknowledged in its statement on Friday that it still aims to grow cycling in Canada), there apparently has been contact between the company and Alpecin-Deceuninck, who have been chasing new sponsorship deals for a while now.
Meanwhile, the women’s St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93 team, which features three Canadian riders, have also been rumoured to be in talks, though nothing has been confirmed yet.
Benson has also reported that Soudal Quick-Step, Picnic PostNL, EF Education-EasyPost, Ineos Grenadiers, Alpecin, and Astana, who were co-sponsored by Premier Tech in 2021, have all been in touch.
Zac Williams/SWpix.com
When it comes to Ineos, it’s clear that the British squad is looking for more investment to add to its existing deal with Total Energies.
And Dave Brailsford and co, seeking to revitalise the team’s grand tour hopes, have also been linked with a move for Canadian star Derek Gee, pending the outcome of his ongoing UCI contractual termination case against IPT.
The next few weeks could be interesting – and you thought all the cycling excitement died down in the winter…
Why don’t cyclists use the cycle lanes? #26,784: Because they’ve turned into swimming pools
The week’s only just started and we’re already onto our second pitiful example of unusable cycling infrastructure, this time courtesy of rainy Dublin:
Why don’t bloody cyclists use the cycle-lanes? This is the new cycle-lane on E Wall Rd. It’s like this all the time. This is a common issue with cycle-lanes all across the city. The drainage here was never adequate. Who audits these projects to check if they’re constructed correctly?
— Citizen Wolf (@citizenw0lf.bsky.social) November 5, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Allan Peiper set for return to cycling after recovery from cancer, as Australian joins Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe as strategic advisor
Cycling’s managerial merry-go-round never slows down, it seems.
Following the news today that Bernie Eisel is departing Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe for a new DS gig at Lidl-Trek, that space at the German squad which opened up has already been filled – by the very welcome sight of Allan Peiper, the Australian returning the sport after recovering from cancer.
A former Giro stage winner as a rider, Peiper took a step back from cycling in 2021 and his role as the lead sports director at UAE Team Emirates, where he was credited with influencing Tadej Pogačar’s early, rapid development, after being diagnosed with prostate cancer.
And now, following his recovery, the 65-year-old – who also served as a DS at T-Mobile and BMC – is back, with his sights set on toppling his old protégé and guiding Remco Evenepoel to Tour de France success as Red Bull’s new strategic advisor.
Peiper’s arrival forms the latest part in the German squad’s Remco-focused rebuild, and will see him contributing his “strategic expertise and extensive experience, helping the team translate its vision into a clear sporting strategy and actionable plans”, instead of working as a DS in the team car, Red Bull said in a statement.
Peiper is expected to work closely with new chief of sports Zak Dempster, who was nabbed from Ineos, with Red Bull praising the Australian’s “strong sense of innovation and a genuine winning mindset – qualities that have also defined his personal battle against cancer”.
“I’m very excited to be part of this project,” Peiper said in a statement. “Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe has made impressive progress in recent years, and I see great potential to strengthen this structure even further.
“It’s about living a clear sporting vision and turning it into daily performance – that’s what drives me.”
-1024x681.jpg)
Paid ticketing at bike races “only solution we have to survive in the future”, says former Milan-Sanremo winner Pippo Pozzato – after Jérôme Pineau’s plan to “privatise Alpe d’Huez” ridiculed
Last week, you may remember, former Giro d’Italia stage winner-turned-chaotic team manager-turned cycling controversialist Jérôme Pineau unleashed his latest divisive hot take – that the Alpe d’Huez finishes at next year’s Tour de France, one of the great roadside spectacles in the sport, should be “privatised” and ticketed for the final five kilometres.
Zac Williams/SWpix.com
“Let’s privatise the last five kilometres of Alpe d’Huez, let’s charge admission, let’s have VIPs, let’s create something to make money,” the Frenchman told RMC’s cycling podcast.
“In the history of cycling, it’s popular, it’s a free sport. But a free sport where there are no more riders on the road because there are only two teams, Bahrain and UAE, is less fun, isn’t it?”
While Pineau’s proposals proved wildly unpopular among cycling fans – with one describing it as “against the soul of the sport” – he has gained support from, we must admit, one of the sport’s more likelier corners: racing capitalist and curly hair enthusiast Pippo Pozzato.
After all, the flamboyant Italian, who won two Tour stages, a Giro stage, and the 2006 Milan-Sanremo during his career, runs the Veneto Classic, where spectators pay €10 to watch the bunch tackle the Tisa climb six times.
So, it’s no surprise then that ol’ Pippo is in favour of Pineau’s Alpe d’VIPs suggestion.
.jpg)
Gian Mattia d’Alberto, LaPresse, RCS Sport
“I think it’s the only solution we have to survive in the future. We are the only sport that does not have a model with ticketing,” he told SpazioCiclismo at the weekend.
“When I applied this model for the first time [at the Veneto Classic] I took insults from people. They told me I was being classist. But to go and see a non-league football match you also pay €15, so why can’t you pay something to see the best cyclists in the world?”
The 44-year-old noted that the price of a ticket also includes some pre- and post-race entertainment and amenities (just like the free Tour of Flanders, it must be noted), and has proved increasingly popular in recent years.
“This year, for the first time since we have been investing, we have brought 720 paying visitors,” he said. “The dream is to reach a thousand people and start increasing the price of the ticket and the quality of the service.”
Zac Williams/SWpix.com
Pozzato also said he wanted to expand his model to the final weekend of the 2024 Giro, but faced resistance from other stakeholders – who he believes are holding back cycling and harming the sport’s financial model.
“They say that people are not ready. But if you don’t start, it’s never ready,” he said. “This is only a problem of two organisers, ASO and RCS, who take a lot of TV rights. Personally, if I had these races in my hands, I would give the money from the TV rights to the teams.
“If we don’t go on this model here, all the small Italian races die. The problem in Italy is that, apart from RCS Sport racing, all the others are destined to die. I am sure it is right.
“But I’m alone against a million, I’m going against the flow of traffic. So they take me for stupid that I go the wrong way. We must try to do something that has a self-sufficient economic system, otherwise it is all useless.”
“Tadej Pogačar couldn’t lace Eddy Merckx’s shoes!” Cycling legend claims four-time Tour de France winner is overrated, brands Remco Evenepoel “arrogant”, and says Mathieu van der Poel “can’t time trial, climb, or sprint”
Roger De Vlaeminck, one of cycling’s greatest ever classics riders, isn’t the shy, retiring type, especially when it comes to airing his views on what he considers the pampered prima donnas of the sport’s modern era.
But De Vlaeminck’s latest ‘back in my day’ hot takes are something else – even by Mr Paris-Roubaix’s notoriously grumpy standards.
“Pogačar couldn’t lace Merckx’s shoes!” the 78-year-old told Het Laatste Nieuws when confronted with the “crazy” suggestion that the four-time Tour de France winner is now comparable to De Vlaeminck’s great rival.
“Journalists who dare make that comparison don’t know anything about it – just write it down.”
Despite the Belgian legend’s derisive dismissals of the topic, cycling’s GOAT debate has been picking up steam over the last two years, as Tadej Pogačar continues to gobble up bike races at an alarming rate.
The 27-year-old Slovenian is now just one yellow jersey away from drawing level with Eddy Merckx on five Tour de France victories, while another world title will equal the Cannibal’s career haul of three rainbow jerseys.
Pogačar’s latest Il Lombardia triumph also saw him become the third most successful monuments rider of all time, with 10 wins across cycling’s biggest one-day races – though the UAE Team Emirates rider still has a long way to go before he eclipses Merckx’s tally of 19 monuments.
It might only take until next spring, however, before he overhauls De Vlaeminck on the monuments league table.
The rider known as ‘The Gypsy’, the biggest contender to Merckx’s one-day supremacy during the 1970s, managed 11 monuments during his career, including four Paris-Roubaix wins (a record only since matched by Tom Boonen), three Milan-Sanremo titles, two Lombardy victories, one Tour of Flanders, and a Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
But while Pogačar is breathing down in his neck when it comes to their status in cycling’s history books, De Vlaeminck is adamant that the Slovenian wouldn’t get the better of him if they were racing against each other today.
“Let me be 22 today and ride in the peloton with Pogačar, and he won’t drop me,” he told Het Laatste Nieuws.
“Where was it recently, when he rode away from Evenepoel? In Lombardy. On not even a difficult climb. As good as Merckx… Come on, man.”
Tell us what you really think, Roger.
Elsewhere in the wide-ranging interview – which saw him name 91-year-old Brigitte Bardot as his ideal dinner guest – De Vlaeminck also let rip at two of cycling’s other stars: Mathieu van der Poel and Remco Evenepoel.
“I like him,” he said of Van der Poel, who is aiming for his own fourth Paris-Roubaix win next April.
“And he’s a great rider. But he can’t time trial, he can’t climb, he can’t sprint… there’s not much left, is there? I won mountain stages, time trials, I could sprint, oh my…”
Zac Williams/SWpix.com
Reminds me of that George Best quote about David Beckham: ‘He can’t kick with his left foot, he can’t head a ball, he can’t tackle, and he doesn’t score many goals. Apart from that, he’s alright.’
Apart from all that Mathieu, you’re alright.
As for triple world time trial champion Remco?
“He’s not my type. A good cyclist, you know. A superb time trialist,” the 78-year-old said.
“But, I don’t know… I find him a bit arrogant sometimes. To cross the finish line and raise your bike in the air… is that necessary? Just cross the line and win, right? I raised my hand back then.
Zac Williams/SWpix.com
“No, no, we’ll call Eddy Merckx to come and talk to him. I have immense respect for Eddy.”
Finally, De Vlaeminck was asked whether it bothers him that some in the cycling world don’t appreciate his forthright opinions and “sharp tongue”.
“More so before than now. I used to think, ‘Should I have said it like that?’ But then again, that’s who you are, right?
“And if there are people who don’t want to say hello or talk to me anymore… I don’t have to live with them, do I?”
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Latest Comments
The TX200 had a five speed freewheel in 1976, not a cassette. Big blokes and heavy touring loads were just asking for bent rear axles.
I hope the government displays the correct 'moral fibre' attitude and also piles on the Fuel Price Escalator
I can't leave this 'ER' stuff unchallenged! We do not say ER!!
I was around in 1973 and remember the impact that the oil crisis and the subsequent oil price hikes had. That was a missed opportunity; this may be the second chance we've been waiting 52 years for. Hasn't come to that yet, but we need to be ready if it does.
[placeholder for obligatory picture meme of Inigo Montoya]
I think you're going to need to be more specific, because no-one can tell who or what you're responding to.
That word… it doesn’t mean what you think it means.
"I see many children in the ER with life altering injuries caused by crashing bikes while not wearing helmets. I also hear stories from paramedics about children who don’t even live long enough after a crash to get to the ER. Same with adults, but less so." Again, observer bias writ large. Do you also see the many, many more people who die because of obesity and associated illnesses because they didn't cycle? The health benefits of cycling outweigh the negatives by a huge margin, but this is never acknowledged by ER staff who only see dead/injured cyclists not the people who die from not cycling. Just because you see something doesn't mean it is universal, and there is much more too it than just ER. "Listen to the people whose job it is to scrape you off the road." Why would I listen to people with such a narrow viewpoint that they can't acknowledge that there is more too it than just what they see? People who literally don't understand that it's far bigger than them and their skewed views. "Wear a helmet, don’t trash people who do, and don’t nitpick about whether a helmet saved a life – if she thinks it did, that’s her right." No, I won't wear a helmet, that's my choice and having read a lot about it, that is completely justified. I don't tell people what to do, maybe you could do the same? I do suggest that they go and look at the evidence and data, otherwise, like you, they might be arguing from a false premise. She is entitled to think that a helmet saved her life, and it isn't nitpicking to say that is extremely unlikely, given the data. It also isn't nitpicking to point out that her sponsors likely include the company that made the helmet.
I'd rather listen to the people who are working to prevent so many traffic collisions. There's no clear evidence that helmets do anything to make cyclists safer (though there is limited evidence to suggest that bike helmets make cyclists less safe) though they do provide a small amount of protection that is likely ineffective in multi-vehicle collisions. You're using a strange logic really. I wouldn't head straight to rubbish collectors to inform me about the best shopping decisions, though it is clearly their job to collect the remnants of my shopping. Similarly, I wouldn't go to a sewer engineer to get the best health advice to keep my toilets regular etc. To be honest, your mention of "children in the ER" seems like an emotional distraction technique to prevent people from thinking clearly.
I see many children in the ER with life altering injuries caused by crashing bikes while not wearing helmets. I also hear stories from paramedics about children who don't even live long enough after a crash to get to the ER. Same with adults, but less so. Listen to the people whose job it is to scrape you off the road. Wear a helmet, don't trash people who do, and don't nitpick about whether a helmet saved a life - if she thinks it did, that's her right.
22 thoughts on ““Tadej Pogačar couldn’t lace Eddy Merckx’s shoes!” Cycling legend claims four-time Tour de France winner is overrated, brands Remco Evenepoel “arrogant”, and says Mathieu van der Poel “can’t time trial, climb, or sprint” + more on the live blog”
Merckx also won 17 six-day
Merckx also won 17 six-day track races that nobody mentions.
Probably also loved a bit of
Probably also loved a bit of the old Pot Belge too
kingleo wrote:
And that’s a magnificent record (nearly 50% wins!) but debate about the GOAT can only really focus on like-for-like, otherwise we could end up saying MVDP must be a better rider that Pogacar as he has nine WC jerseys to Pogacar’s two.
Pogacar, couldn’t lace my
Pogacar, couldn’t lace my shoes either.
But to be fair my shoes are those Sidi ones that you tighten with a wheel and tension wires.
“Pogačar couldn’t lace Merckx
“Pogačar couldn’t lace Merckx’s shoes!”
This isn’t really what he said. De Vlaeminck is known for being cantankerous and not very generous in appraising others (except Eddy Merckx, but then… praising Merckx elevates his own achievements). However, “couldn’t lace his shoes” has more derisory connotations than what he actually said. He actually said (as reported):
“Pogacar komt nog niet aan de tenen van Merckx!”
Which literally translated is:
“Pogacar wouldn’t reach the toes of Merckx!”
Which kind is of more about comparing the /stature/ of the two, in terms of achievement. E.g. more like:
“Pogacar doesn’t even stand as high Merck’s toes”.
On his comparison to Van der Poel, De Vlaeminck isn’t lying when he said he felt he himself had a broader range. De Vlaeminck has won the green jersey AND been top-10 on GC in multiple Giro d’Italias. Indeed, in ’75 he won the points jersey while also coming 4th on GC and 5th in the mountains classification! He’s won the Tirreno-Adriatico GC… 6 times! 3x Giro points, MSR 3x, PR 4x, Lombardia 2x. He was an incredible incredible rider. Such a shame he ignored the Tour for the prime time of his career.
He comes across as a somewhat lonely and sad figure in his old age though. Sad to read.
Paul J wrote:
I mean, that kind of seems a fair bit more derisory to me.
Some champions age better
Some champions age better than others. One may assume that De Vlaeminck’s family sent him on a PR and media tour before the greeting’s season so that they don’t have to listen to yet another “back in my days” rant over Christmas lunch.
MaxiMinimalist wrote:
That’s the sad bit. It seems, from that article, that he is estranged from his 2 children from first marriage – they don’t speak to him. His son lives with him, and some comments suggest Roger may be beginning to suffer from dementia – he mentions forgetting things, and his son helping him filling in papers and what not.
He has a new wife, 27 years his junior, whom he met 7 years ago and married. But.. kind of odd: they don’t live together, they speak on the phone most days and see each other every 2 weeks. (Belgium is not a big country).
Little bit sad, for such a legend (cranky as he is and always has been).
Also, fair enough mdavidford on my translation potentially being /more/ derisory. 😉 For me “not fit to lace his shoes” has connotations of servitude and being even below that, while De Vlaeminck’s dutch sounds more like it’s a comparison of achievement – but it’s not a common saying (not one I recognise anyway, and googling for it points back to De Vlaeminck’s interview, so it might be his expression), so maybe he meant it another way.
Paul J wrote:
Mauve jersey (maglia ciclamino).
D’oh, of course! 😉 Thanks for spotting that silly mistake.
If I ever get a time-machine,
If I ever get a time-machine, I will totally go back, get Pogacar from this year, then head back to find Mercx at his prime, and make them race each other. “Its the only way to be sure.” 100%
The only way to make it
The only way to make it vaguely comparable would be to take one of them as a youngster and plonk them into cycling at the same time as the other so they could develop at the same time. Pogacar would absolutely smoke him if you just plopped him back into that era. It isn’t even a discussion.
The reason you usually can’t compare eras is that training, nutrition, style and quality of competition, technology etc simply don’t compare.
Maradona vs Messi. Was it harder in some ways during Maradonas time? Yes, defenders could try to murder you and get a small shake of the head from the ref. We’re defenders sunday league level compared to today? Yep. Who knows how good the very best from past eras would be with all the advantages of modern sport.
And yes, I know you were being a little silly with your comment and not 100% serious.
Don’t forget Pele, who helped
Don’t forget Pele, who helped win the 1958 world cup, was hacked out of the 1966 world cup and came stronger and tougher (it was said that defenders tangled with him at their peril!) to help Brazil to win the 1970 World Cup.
Look up “Pele outrageous dummy Vs Uruguay” on YouTube.
His acceleration, vision and skill were unbelievable.
Also look up his goal Vs Italy in the 1970 final. He seemed to hang in the air for ages and still got so much power in his header.
Plus the beautifully weighted pass for Carlos Alberta to score the 4th goal.
It is a shame that not so many South Americans came to play in Europe in those days.
These older riders from the
These older riders from the seventies aren’t exactly covering themselves in glory at the moment, what with Hinault accusing a 105 year old World Hour Record holder and fellow countryman of doping, and De Vlaeminck making these gutter presss/tabloid level statements about Pogacar, Van Der Poel and Evenopoel. It strikes me they are almost bitter that their time as bike riders is up and they are trying to make themselves relevant. I’ve read two biographies about Merckx and yes he was head and shoulders above other riders in his era, but Pogacar is a true sportsman, gracious on the rare occasions he is beaten, and fantastically able on the bike, and with a track record in prestigious races that will I believe eventually stand justified comparison with Merckx’s career. We cannot accurately compare Merckx to the riders of the first Tours de France and Giro D’Italias who rode on gravel roads for 13+ hours at a time per stage often in horrific weather and equally you cannot compare Pocagar to Merckx, but for sure he is one of the greatest riders and doesn’t need De Vlaeminck’s sullen opinion. I’m positive Pocagar won’t be sullying the achievements of future champions like De Vlaeminck and Hinault when he has hung up his wheels. He’s a true fan of cycling and I think will be stood by the roads cheering the new breed along. Remember the stage in 2022 to Col de Granon, visibly elated to be racing, isolated from his team and ultimately capitulating, he loves racing.
Who is the greatest
Who is the greatest footballer of all time?
who is the greatest boxer of all time?
who is the greatest F1 driver of all time?
every single one of these will have people argue and have their favourites. Same with cycling.
The only thing you can really use to compare Mercxx and Pogacar is their record. And on that alone Mercxx is far and away ahead. When the next big thing comes along they too will only be compared to who is top of that all time list. Whether it’s Mercxx, Pogacar or anyone else. For all we know, the next bright thing is only around the corner. What if Pogacar retires in a year or two? Can you really compare 2 riders with careers that were totally different in length?
Im sure not many would argue Cavendish is the greatest sprinter ever. But is that based on years at the top or was there a better sprinter who didn’t win as much but did it better when they did ? Cipollini? Kittel? Sagan?
For me, until Pogacar is leading the record books and it’s not in doubt, Mercxx will remain the best ever.
Smoggysteve wrote:
4 legs good, 2 wheels also
4 legs good, 2 wheels also good.
Of course, if the question is
Of course, if the question is ‘Who is the GOAT?’, then the answer is ‘Muriel’.
You can’t compare records
You can’t compare records either. You are the product of your time and your competition. Andy Murray is a great example. Brilliant tennis player but the question is how good he would have been without Djokovic, Nadal and Federer around him to push him. Would he have been as good and cleaned up or would he have been a lesser player without them around him? Any of Nadal, Federer and Djokovic would have utterly dominated tennis if the others didn’t exist and between them they did. All their records are amazing but imagine if there was only one of them. Their record would be miles better.
Its a hell of a lot harder IMO to be the very best these days than decades ago. Everyone knows the same stuff now. They all have access to the same info. They all train from a young age, optimise everything.
mctrials23 wrote:
Not insignificantly, they all have access to pretty much the same bikes as well; before my time but as I understand it in the 60s and 70s team leaders were often riding superior equipment to that provided for the domestiques.
Only sheeps enjoy
Only sheeps enjoy controversies about GOATs.
Hammond is correct – it’s
Hammond is correct – it’s cyclists’ “responsibility to stay safe” on the roads and avoid cars, SUVs, campers, vans, RVs, trucks, lorries, buses, coaches and any other motorized vehicles whose drivers behave like they own the roads.