Latest news with #EddyMerckx
ABC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Tadej Pogačar wins fourth Tour de France, one off all-time record
Tadej Pogačar appears on the verge of emulating cycling great Eddy Merckx after his fourth Tour de France win, but the Slovenian says he is in no rush to chase history, warning that the risk of burnout looms large in one of the most mentally and physically demanding sports. The 26-year-old sealed his fourth Tour de France title after three more weeks of dominance, but admitted fatigue crept in during the final days. "We were comfortably in the yellow, but yeah, I was a bit tired in the last week, to be honest," Pogačar told a press conference, adding he wanted to enjoy the moment in Paris rather than dissect mistakes. While his achievements have already placed him among the all-time greats in the race's 122-year history, Pogačar said cycling's relentless calendar and obsession with training create a dangerous cycle that could leave riders drained. "Burnouts happen in sports, in a lot of sports, mental burnout, physical burnout. We train a lot. Cyclists are sometimes too obsessed with training, and everybody wants to train more and more and more," he said. The world champion warned over-training combined with constant racing demands could trap riders in a cycle of fatigue that rarely allowed time for recovery. "You see some riders have fatigue too early in the season and then the team needs you to race, race, race. In the end, you just keep going into this circle and you never recover," the UAE Emirates-XRG rider said. "Then you come to October and you're like, finally a break. And then in December, you're trying to do it all over again." For Pogačar, that risk is why he refuses to set lofty targets such as joining Merckx, Miguel Induráin, Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault with five Tour titles. "Obviously it's not the goal to win five tours. Right now, I have no clear goals. Maybe the world championships this year and [the Tour of] Lombardy, but for now I just enjoy the moment and will think about the next goals quite soon," he said. Pogačar also credited rival Jonas Vingegaard, saying their five-year duel was a privilege and pushed both "to the next level". It is the first time two riders finish first and second in five consecutive Tours, Vingegaard having beaten Pogačar in 2022 and 2023 while the Slovenian edged his rival out this year, in 2021 and 2024. After three gruelling weeks, Pogačar savoured the relaxed final stage in Paris. "Today was pure racing and I enjoyed it quite a bit," he said with a smile. Ben O'Connor was the best-placed Australian, finishing 11th, 34 minutes and 34 seconds behind Pogačar. Reuters
CNA
4 days ago
- Sport
- CNA
Pogacar wary of burnout despite Tour triumph, shuns talk of chasing Merckx
PARIS :Although Tadej Pogacar appears on the verge of emulating cycling great Eddy Merckx, the Slovenian says he is in no rush to chase history, warning that the risk of burnout looms large in one of the most mentally and physically demanding sports. The 26-year-old sealed his fourth Tour de France title on Sunday after three weeks of dominance, but admitted fatigue crept in during the final days. 'We were comfortably in the yellow, but yeah, I was a bit tired in the last week, to be honest,' Pogacar told a press conference, adding that for now he wanted to enjoy the moment in Paris rather than dissect mistakes. While his achievements have already placed him among the all-time greats, Pogacar said cycling's relentless calendar and obsession with training create a dangerous cycle that can leave riders mentally and physically drained. "Burnouts happen in sports, in a lot of sports, mental burnout, physical burnout. We train a lot. Cyclists are sometimes too obsessed with training, and everybody wants to train more and more and more," he explained. The world champion warned that overtraining combined with constant racing demands can trap riders in a cycle of fatigue that rarely allows time for recovery. 'You see some riders have fatigue too early in the season and then the team needs you to race, race, race. In the end, you just keep going into this circle and you never recover," the UAE Emirates-XRG rider said. "Then you come to October and you're like, finally a break. And then in December, you're trying to do it all over again." For Pogacar, that risk is why he refuses to set lofty targets such as joining Merckx and Miguel Indurain with five Tour titles. 'Obviously it's not the goal to win five tours. Right now, I have no clear goals. Maybe the world championships this year and (the Tour of) Lombardy, but for now I just enjoy the moment and will think about the next goals quite soon,' he said. Pogacar also credited rival Jonas Vingegaard for pushing him to higher levels, calling their five-year duel a privilege. 'We just push each other to the next level,' he said. It is the first time that two riders finish first and second in five consecutive Tours, Vingegaard having beaten Pogacar in 2022 and 2023 while the Slovenian edged his rival out this year, in 2021 and 2024. After three gruelling weeks, Pogacar savoured the relaxed final stage in Paris. 'Today was pure racing … and I enjoyed it quite a bit,' he said with a smile.
Reuters
4 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Pogacar wary of burnout despite Tour triumph, shuns talk of chasing Merckx
PARIS, July 27 (Reuters) - Although Tadej Pogacar appears on the verge of emulating cycling great Eddy Merckx, the Slovenian says he is in no rush to chase history, warning that the risk of burnout looms large in one of the most mentally and physically demanding sports. The 26-year-old sealed his fourth Tour de France title on Sunday after three weeks of dominance, but admitted fatigue crept in during the final days. 'We were comfortably in the yellow, but yeah, I was a bit tired in the last week, to be honest,' Pogacar told a press conference, adding that for now he wanted to enjoy the moment in Paris rather than dissect mistakes. While his achievements have already placed him among the all-time greats, Pogacar said cycling's relentless calendar and obsession with training create a dangerous cycle that can leave riders mentally and physically drained. "Burnouts happen in sports, in a lot of sports, mental burnout, physical burnout. We train a lot. Cyclists are sometimes too obsessed with training, and everybody wants to train more and more and more," he explained. The world champion warned that overtraining combined with constant racing demands can trap riders in a cycle of fatigue that rarely allows time for recovery. 'You see some riders have fatigue too early in the season and then the team needs you to race, race, race. In the end, you just keep going into this circle and you never recover," the UAE Emirates-XRG rider said. "Then you come to October and you're like, finally a break. And then in December, you're trying to do it all over again." For Pogacar, that risk is why he refuses to set lofty targets such as joining Merckx and Miguel Indurain with five Tour titles. 'Obviously it's not the goal to win five tours. Right now, I have no clear goals. Maybe the world championships this year and (the Tour of) Lombardy, but for now I just enjoy the moment and will think about the next goals quite soon,' he said. Pogacar also credited rival Jonas Vingegaard for pushing him to higher levels, calling their five-year duel a privilege. 'We just push each other to the next level,' he said. It is the first time that two riders finish first and second in five consecutive Tours, Vingegaard having beaten Pogacar in 2022 and 2023 while the Slovenian edged his rival out this year, in 2021 and 2024. After three gruelling weeks, Pogacar savoured the relaxed final stage in Paris. 'Today was pure racing … and I enjoyed it quite a bit,' he said with a smile.
CNA
4 days ago
- Sport
- CNA
Predator and puppeteer: Pogacar turns the Tour into his stage
PARIS :At just 26, Tadej Pogacar has turned the Tour de France into his kingdom, claiming his fourth title on Sunday and cementing a reign that recalls the hunger of Eddy Merckx and the iron grip of Lance Armstrong – yet feels entirely his own. This victory was more than just a triumph - it was a showcase of transformation. Pogacar started the race as a lively, daring rider, delighting fans with audacious attacks and celebrating stage wins with unrestrained exuberance. Yet as the gruelling three-week event wore on, the Slovenian's demeanour shifted. The joy gave way to cold, calculating focus, showcasing his ability to transition from a crowd-pleaser to a commanding leader. Only in the final stage did Pogacar spring back to life in a ride resembling a one-day classic, during which he fought an epic duel with Belgian Wout van Aert. While he did not win, the joy of racing was briefly back as the world champion found a challenge at his measure. Through the first two weeks, Pogacar appeared unstoppable, claiming four stage wins, putting the hammer down on the climb to Hautacam and adding a dominant performance in the uphill time trial on Stage 13. That victory stretched his lead over Jonas Vingegaard to more than four minutes, reinforcing his position as the man to beat. His early attacks were bold, his energy seemingly endless. Fans witnessed the Pogacar they adored — smiling at the summit, waving to children on the roadside, and revelling in the pure joy of racing. However, the Alpine stages brought a noticeable change. Pogacar's appetite for stage victories diminished, replaced by a deliberate focus on controlling the race. On the climb to La Plagne, Pogacar allowed Thymen Arensman to claim the stage win, focusing instead on neutralizing Vingegaard's chances of winning the stage. That level of authority brought echoes of Armstrong's dominance in the early 2000s, although the context was vastly different. The psychological command over the race, however, felt familiar. Rivals stopped plotting to beat Pogacar, they plotted to survive. "It was one of the hardest, if not the hardest, Tours I've been in," Pogacar told reporters, emphasising the physical and mental challenges of defending his lead over three weeks. The Slovenian's calm demeanour occasionally cracked under pressure. After enduring repeated accelerations from rivals during a mountain stage, he described their tactics as 'a bit annoying.' While Pogacar never appeared physically vulnerable, his transition from carefree to businesslike reflected the immense weight of leadership. Even when Matteo Jorgenson launched an attack, Pogacar personally shut it down despite the American posing no threat to his overall lead - a testament to his meticulous control. COMPARISONS TO MERCKX Every milestone Pogacar achieves revives comparisons with Merckx, cycling's "Cannibal," who devoured everything in his path. The Belgian claimed five Tours, Giro-Tour doubles, and Monument wins during his remarkable career. With four Tour titles, one Giro win, multiple Monuments, and a world championship to his name, Pogacar is the closest to Merckx's level seen in decades. Bernard Hinault, one of four riders with five Tour wins, remarked that Pogacar is 'like me and Merckx,' while Merckx himself admitted that Pogacar's world title ride surpassed his own on that day. The defining question now is whether Pogacar can match Merckx's record of five Tour victories. His 2024 season - winning the Giro, Tour, and World Championships - echoes Merckx's mythical 1974 campaign. The way Pogacar is able to control a race feels organic, driven by raw talent, versatility, and a calm confidence that suggests inevitability rather than fear. Yet the final week of the Tour revealed another layer to Pogacar's character: the strain of expectation. Though his joy faded as the race progressed, replaced by steely determination, it is this duality - exuberance and strain, predator and puppet master - that makes Pogacar a compelling figure in modern cycling. With four Tour wins at 26, Pogacar stands tantalisingly close to the immortal mark of five titles, cementing his place among cycling's greats.
Reuters
4 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Predator and puppeteer: Pogacar turns the Tour into his stage
PARIS, July 27 (Reuters) - At just 26, Tadej Pogacar has turned the Tour de France into his kingdom, claiming his fourth title on Sunday and cementing a reign that recalls the hunger of Eddy Merckx and the iron grip of Lance Armstrong – yet feels entirely his own. This victory was more than just a triumph - it was a showcase of transformation. Pogacar started the race as a lively, daring rider, delighting fans with audacious attacks and celebrating stage wins with unrestrained exuberance. Yet as the gruelling three-week event wore on, the Slovenian's demeanour shifted. The joy gave way to cold, calculating focus, showcasing his ability to transition from a crowd-pleaser to a commanding leader. Only in the final stage did Pogacar spring back to life in a ride resembling a one-day classic, during which he fought an epic duel with Belgian Wout van Aert. While he did not win, the joy of racing was briefly back as the world champion found a challenge at his measure. Through the first two weeks, Pogacar appeared unstoppable, claiming four stage wins, putting the hammer down on the climb to Hautacam and adding a dominant performance in the uphill time trial on Stage 13. That victory stretched his lead over Jonas Vingegaard to more than four minutes, reinforcing his position as the man to beat. His early attacks were bold, his energy seemingly endless. Fans witnessed the Pogacar they adored — smiling at the summit, waving to children on the roadside, and revelling in the pure joy of racing. However, the Alpine stages brought a noticeable change. Pogacar's appetite for stage victories diminished, replaced by a deliberate focus on controlling the race. On the climb to La Plagne, Pogacar allowed Thymen Arensman to claim the stage win, focusing instead on neutralizing Vingegaard's chances of winning the stage. That level of authority brought echoes of Armstrong's dominance in the early 2000s, although the context was vastly different. The psychological command over the race, however, felt familiar. Rivals stopped plotting to beat Pogacar, they plotted to survive. "It was one of the hardest, if not the hardest, Tours I've been in," Pogacar told reporters, emphasising the physical and mental challenges of defending his lead over three weeks. The Slovenian's calm demeanour occasionally cracked under pressure. After enduring repeated accelerations from rivals during a mountain stage, he described their tactics as 'a bit annoying.' While Pogacar never appeared physically vulnerable, his transition from carefree to businesslike reflected the immense weight of leadership. Even when Matteo Jorgenson launched an attack, Pogacar personally shut it down despite the American posing no threat to his overall lead - a testament to his meticulous control. Every milestone Pogacar achieves revives comparisons with Merckx, cycling's "Cannibal," who devoured everything in his path. The Belgian claimed five Tours, Giro-Tour doubles, and Monument wins during his remarkable career. With four Tour titles, one Giro win, multiple Monuments, and a world championship to his name, Pogacar is the closest to Merckx's level seen in decades. Bernard Hinault, one of four riders with five Tour wins, remarked that Pogacar is 'like me and Merckx,' while Merckx himself admitted that Pogacar's world title ride surpassed his own on that day. The defining question now is whether Pogacar can match Merckx's record of five Tour victories. His 2024 season - winning the Giro, Tour, and World Championships - echoes Merckx's mythical 1974 campaign. The way Pogacar is able to control a race feels organic, driven by raw talent, versatility, and a calm confidence that suggests inevitability rather than fear. Yet the final week of the Tour revealed another layer to Pogacar's character: the strain of expectation. Though his joy faded as the race progressed, replaced by steely determination, it is this duality - exuberance and strain, predator and puppet master - that makes Pogacar a compelling figure in modern cycling. With four Tour wins at 26, Pogacar stands tantalisingly close to the immortal mark of five titles, cementing his place among cycling's greats.
